Lived experiences of tooth hypersensitivity in children with molar incisor hypomineralisation

Background

Children with molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) can suffer from intense tooth hypersensitivity (TH), which may adversely affect various aspects of their emotional, social, and functional wellbeing. As TH diagnostic tools are primarily adapted from adult research, there is a clear need for a deeper understanding of MIH-TH from a child-centred perspective.

Aim

To explore how children with MIH perceive and experience TH within the context of their daily lives.

Design

Following ethical approval, audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews were conducted with children with MIH, aged between 6- and 16-years-old, followed by iterative thematic analysis.

Results

Seventeen children were included (10 girls and 7 boys) with a mean age of 9 years and 7 months. All children had severe MIH, with between 1 and 10 affected teeth. Five main themes emerged: description of TH, triggers for TH, impact of TH, responses to TH, and experience within the dental context and setting. Children used rich language to convey their experiences of TH and its various impacts.

Conclusion

Children with MIH described their experiences of TH, highlighting its considerable impact on their daily lives. Data from this study will inform the development of a TH-specific measurement tool for this patient group.