Methods: A questionnaire, based on previous European and Australian/New Zealand studies was administered to the academic dental staff of Mosul University. Chi-square or Fisher-Freeman Halton tests were utilised for nominal or ordinal variables.
Results: Of the 188 questionnaires distributed, 146 responses were received (response rate: 77.7%). Of the total respondents, general dental practitioners (GDP) represented 30.8 %, whilst 65.1% had post-graduate qualifications (SDP), the remaining (4.1%) provided incomplete qualification data. The majority of the respondents (81.2%) encountered MIH in their clinical activities and the yellow/brown demarcated opacities were the most frequently noted clinical presentation. 46.8% reported that the prevalence had increased in recent years. Fewer than half of the respondents (42.0%) observed MIH affected teeth on a monthly basis. The majority of the respondents identified acute and chronic medical conditions affecting the mother and child during pregnancy as the main etiological factor. 70.5% of SDP felt confident in their ability to correctly diagnose MIH. However, this was not the case among GDPs (48.8%). The majority of the respondents (62.8%) advocated the need for additional training regarding MIH in particular on its aetiological and therapeutic fields.
Conclusions: MIH is a condition commonly encountered by Mosul academic staff, mostly as a moderately severe hypomineralisation lesion, with a considerable disparity in perception and views regarding the prevalence of MIH. Nonetheless, there was a generalised perception that its incidence was increasing. A variation in opinions existed regarding MIH aetiological factor/s and medical conditions were involved in the pathogenesis of MIH. Respondents stressed the need for additional training regarding MIH.
Supported by The Melbourne University Overseas Research Experience Scholarships.