(1) Background: Molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a clinical condition affecting permanent teeth in children, with a documented rising trend in the last two decades. The aim of the present study was to analyze and synthesize the available evidence on caries experience (dmft/DMFT) and MIH in children. (2) Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the PRISMA statement. (3) Results: 59 papers published between 2007 and 2022 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 18 in the meta-analysis. The total sample of subjects was 17,717 (mean: 896), of which 2378 (13.4%) had MIH (mean: 119), with a girl/boy ratio of 1:1. The mean age of the enrolled participants was 8.6 (age range 7–10 years). Meta-analysis showed that MIH has a positive correlation with both dmft (effect size of 0.67, 95% CI [0.15, 1.19]) and DMFT (effect size of 0.56, 95% CI [0.41, 0.72]); (4) Conclusions: Children with MIH should be diagnosed correctly and on time. Treatment and management options for moderate and severe forms of MIH should consider prognosis based on known risk factors, and secondary and tertiary prevention policies should also consider the multifactorial nature of caries etiology.

The objective of this study was to detail the monomer composition of resin-based dental materials sold in the market in 2023 and to evaluate the proportion of bisphenol A (BPA)-derivatives in relation to their applications. A search on manufacturers’ websites was performed to reference resin-based dental materials currently on the European market (including the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK). Their monomer composition was determined using material-safety data sheets and was completed by a search on the PubMed database. Among the 543 material compositions exploitable, 382 (70.3%) contained BPA derivatives. Among them, 56.2% contained BisGMA and 28% BisEMA, the most frequently reported. A total of 59 monomers, of which six were BPA derivatives, were found. In total, 309 materials (56.9%) contained UDMA and 292 (53.8%) TEGDMA. Less than one third of materials identified contained no BPA derivatives. These proportions vary a lot depending on their applications, with materials dedicated to the dental care of young populations containing the highest proportions of BPA-derivative monomers. The long-term effects on human health of the different monomers identified including BPA-derivative monomers is a source of concern. For children and pregnant or lactating women arises the question of whether to take a precautionary principle and avoid the use of resin-based dental materials likely to release BPA by opting for alternative materials.

The objective of this study was to detail the monomer composition of resin-based dental materials sold in the market in 2023 and to evaluate the proportion of BPA derivatives in relation with their applications. A search on manufacturers’ websites was performed to reference resin-based dental materials currently on the market. Their monomer composition was determined from material safety data sheets and completed with a search on PubMed database. Among the 543 material compositions exploitable, 382 (70.3%) contained BPA derivatives. Among them, 56.2% contained BisGMA, 28% BisEMA, the most frequently reported. A total of 59 monomers of which 6 BPA-derivatives were found. 309 materials (56.9%) contained UDMA and 292 (53.8%) TEGDMA. Less than one third of materials identified contained no BPA derivatives. These proportions vary a lot depending on their applications with materials dedicated to dental care of young populations containing the highest proportions of BPA-derivatives monomers. The long-term effects on human health of the different monomers identified including BPA-derivatives monomers is a source of concern. For children and pregnant or lactating women arises the question to take a precautionary principle and avoid the use of resin-based dental materials likely to release BPA by opting for alternative materials.

Exposure to environmental pollutants may contribute to various health disorders, often manifesting after a prolonged period of latency. The identification of early markers is, therefore, of paramount importance. To achieve this objective, realistic models of environmental exposure were set up. Whereas most studies consider one substance or mixture with one target organ, here, in addition to the liver, two easily accessible sensitive organs, the eyes and teeth, were analyzed as good potential candidates to be original markers of environmental exposures. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to either sodium fluoride or a mixture of 15 endocrine-disrupting substances, or both, in their drinking water from the time of conception until 1 or 10 months after birth. The doses of these substances were chosen to be close to the tolerable daily intake. All mice in test groups presented lower weight gain than controls with the most significant differences observed in females 30 days after birth. Alterations in the eye retina were detected as early as 1 month of age and considerably worsened by 10 months. Dental defects were observed in all test groups at the last time point. At that age, metabolic disruptions were identified through molecular metabolomic and RNAseq analyses, while histological analyses showed no significant defects in liver. This study shows that chronic exposure to widespread toxicants resulted in hepatic metabolic disorders. However, the most evident histological and clinical signs were observed in eyes and teeth. These easily accessible stigmata may be used as early markers of low-dose exposure to environmental toxicants.

The demineralization of tooth enamel caused by acid attack in dental biofilms is a significant challenge in dentistry. While fluoride varnishes are widely used to protect and restore the enamel surface, their actual ability to penetrate and treat the enamel in depth remains poorly understood. This study proposes an innovative in vitro approach to visualize the diffusion of remineralizing agents into enamel depth using by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Four commercial fluoride varnishes (MI Varnish ^® , Duraphat ^® , FluoroCal ^® , Clinpro Clear Fluoride ^® ) were applied to artificially demineralized bovine enamel samples in the presence of tetracycline. We used the tetracycline’s properties to bind to calcium and form a fluorescent complex to track the remineralization activity of varnishes. The results demonstrate the absence of autofluorescence in the controls and the presence of a specific fluorescent emission for the active varnishes. MI Varnish ^® demonstrated the most significant penetration in enamel depth (42.0 ± 11.6 μm), followed by Duraphat ^® , FluoroCal ^® , and Clinpro Clear Fluoride ^® . This non-destructive method provides accurate three-dimensional visualization of remineralized areas and is a promising tool for evaluating fluoride varnishes effectiveness.

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a qualitative developmental defect of enamel and one of the most prevalent oral health conditions in childhood. Over the last two decades, increasing attention has been given to its prevalence and etiology; however, marked heterogeneity in diagnostic criteria and indices has limited the comparability of epidemiological findings. This systematic review aimed to identify and describe the diagnostic indices used for the epidemiological assessment of MIH in the general pediatric population. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify epidemiological studies published between January 2001 and December 2024 reporting MIH prevalence in children. Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022345224). A total of 198 articles were included, corresponding to 201 independent epidemiological studies, as three articles reported results from two distinct study populations. The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria were used in 171 studies (75.7%), representing the most widely adopted diagnostic index. Other indices, including the modified Developmental Defects of Enamel index (mDDE), Mathu-Muju and Wright, Wetzel and Reckel, MIH Severity Scoring System (MIH-SSS), the MIH Treatment Need Index (MIH TNI) criteria, and FDI criteria, were used infrequently. Studies using EAPD criteria accounted for the largest cumulative sample size and showed a descriptively aggregated MIH prevalence of 12.9%, whereas prevalence estimates varied across alternative diagnostic indices. In conclusion, the lack of uniform diagnostic standards and nomenclature hampers global surveillance and limits the comparability of prevalence data. The adoption of MIH-specific diagnostic criteria, supported by adequate examiner calibration and transparent reporting, is essential to improve the quality, consistency, and interpretability of future epidemiological research.