A study by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry and the University of Toyama revealed that enamel hypoplasia in children, who are prone to tooth decay, is more common in western Japan and less in eastern Japan.This is the first time that a nationwide survey has revealed the prevalence of enamel hypoplasia and regional differences.
The survey was conducted by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry Clinical Research Promotion Committee from October 2015 to January 10, targeting 2016 healthy children aged 1 to 388 years with the cooperation of 7 dental clinics nationwide.Of these, 9 people who had complete information on enamel hypoplasia were analyzed by Professor Michikazu Sekine of the University of Toyama School of Medicine.
According to it, the prevalence of enamel hypoplasia is 19.8% nationwide.By region, Hokkaido was 14.0%, Tohoku was 11,7%, Kanto Shinetsu was 18.5%, Tokai Hokuriku was 19.3%, which was low in eastern Japan, while Kinki was 22.3%, China was 19.8%, and Shikoku was. 28.1%, Kyushu 25.3%, high numbers in western Japan.The highest Shikoku figure is 2.4 times that of the lowest Tohoku.
Enamel hypoplasia is a disease in which the enamel that makes up the teeth is not formed normally, and is characterized by the fact that the newly-grown teeth turn yellow or brown if they are mild.In severe cases, teeth may be missing and internal dentin may be visible.In both cases, tooth decay is likely to occur, and in the case of anterior teeth, aesthetic problems arise.
Possible causes include premature birth and nutritional disorders for deciduous teeth, taking antibiotics during pregnancy, and infectious diseases, nutritional disorders, and tooth decay for permanent teeth.
Paper information:[Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine] Prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralization and regional differences throughout Japan
