Most cases of MIH are very mild with just white spots on the teeth , it’s a cosmetic problem for the vast majority of children and does not make teeth weaker or more prone to decay. In the past many cases of MIH were misdiagnosed as fluorosis .
I’ve taken thousands of teeth out for children and referred many for extractions, the youngest 18 months old. A tiny minority have been for trauma or decay associated with MIH , the vast,vast,vast majority for decay caused by poor dietary choices.
The heartbreaking thing is that most will be back for more treatment as the biggest predictor for poor oral health in adulthood is extractions in childhood.
You would think the “short ,sharp,shock” of having a GA and your child in hospital would change things but people accept they and their family have “weak teeth” and that dental treatment is normal , whereas for the vast majority they and their family have a weak diet and further treatment is very,very preventable. Research shows the child who has teeth out early will go on to be the child who has more and more invasive dental treatment.
I have many families with children with extreme difficulties who prioritise oral care and the huge physical, time,care barriers to oral care have raised children with excellent oral health.
I also have families who refuse to believe that their “healthy” diet of smoothies, homemade flapjacks and honied fruit teas is causing decay , let alone their refusal to use fluoride toothpastes or even ones with hydroxyapatite.
In general second and subsequent children have worse dental health than their first born siblings , mainly because they are introduced to sugary foods earlier following their older siblings diet, although less time supervising toothbrushing may also have a role.
A few years ago we used to have Swedish dentists coming to my area to train. This is because in the U.K. there is so much decay they just don’t see in Sweden. It’s down to diet.