Uncovering the hidden costs of Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH): the impact of later diagnosis on clinical outcomes and financial cost.

Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) is a dynamic condition in which demarcated opacities can progress to post-eruptive enamel breakdown, increasing the risk of dental caries. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and economic impact of late diagnosis of MIH. A total of 803 children aged 6-11 years were examined, of whom 172 were diagnosed with MIH and classified into 2 groups based on age at diagnosis: early diagnosis (under 8 years) and late diagnosis (8 years or older). A treatment plan was developed according to the severity and clinical presentation of MIH in each child, and the associated financial costs were calculated. Children in the late-diagnosis group presented more severe MIH, with a higher prevalence of demarcated opacities, atypical carious lesions, and atypical restorations. Although the estimated overall financial cost of treatment did not differ significantly between groups, a 2-year delay in MIH diagnosis led to more severe clinical presentations and higher expenses from the more complex interventions required. In conclusion, a 2-year delay in the diagnosis of MIH was associated with a more severe clinical presentation, necessitating more complex restorative treatments and leading to increased financial costs related to these treatments.Research Ethics Committee: CAAE 12161019.2.0000.5419, date 29.04.2019.