Prevalence of Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation among School Children of Sari, Iran

Abstract

Background and objective: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a painful disease regarded as one of the most prevalent oral mucosal lesions. Few studies have been carried out to investigate the prevalence of this disease in children in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis among children studying at public elementary schools in Sari County (Iran), and to examine the factors affecting its prevalence. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study. It had a statistical population including all students studying at public elementary schools in Sari County, Iran in 2019. Using the sample size determination formula, 1790 students were considered as the sample and were randomly selected from the public elementary schools in this county. The age range of the samples was 7 to 14 years old and their mean age was 10.05. Data were gathered by clinical examinations and a researcher-made questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed via SPSS ver. 24. Results: The prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis was 32.8% concerning the samples’ history and it was 9.2% at the time of examination. Moreover, at the time of examination, its prevalence was significantly higher in the boys (10.9%) compared to the girls (7.6%). However, the history of RAS was reported more by the girls. In the present study, the prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis was not significantly associated with age, social status, and economic status of the samples. Conclusion: Considering these results, it can be deduced that recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a relatively common disease. Accordingly, informing families by providing appropriate training and basic healthcare seems to be effective.