Rafat Bagheri - Associate Professor, Department of Dental Material, Biomaterial Research Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Aghareed Ghanim - Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Dental School, Cooperative Research Center for Oral Health Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Mohammad Reza Azar - Associate Professor, Department of Dental Material and School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
David John Manton - Professor, Elsdon Storey Chair of Child Dental Health, Melbourne Dental School, Cooperative Research Center for Oral Health Science, University of Melbourne, Australia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge of a group of Iranian academic dentists regarding incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in two dental schools in Iran. METHODS: A survey was undertaken amongst the teaching staff of the dental schools of Shiraz and Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences. The questionnaire consisted of two sections. In the first section respondents were asked to provide socio-demographic information including year and place of receiving, and type of dental qualification. The second section included questions regarding perception and recognition of the MIH defect in their clinical practice, the incidence and severity of the defect (represented by its clinical presentation), their knowledge of its prevalence, possible determinant factors, and their clinical experience with the management strategies for MIH. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution and Pearson's chi-square test for categorical data. The critical level for alpha was set at ۰.۰۵. RESULTS: A response rate of ۶۱.۳% was achieved. The vast majority of the respondents (۸۵.۷%) had encountered MIH in their professional work, with ۴۸.۸% indicating that yellow-brown opacities were the most prevalent lesion type. A significant difference between specialists was reported in relation to the frequency of observation of MIH (χ۲(۵) = ۱۵.۳; P < ۰.۰۰۱). Resin composite was the most popular material used in treating teeth with MIH (۶۲%). Endodontists (۹۰.۰%) and pediatric dentists (۷۷.۸%) used resin composite significantly more than other specialist groups (χ۲(۵) = ۵.۸; P < ۰.۰۰۱). Adhesion was the most commonly reported influence on material choice (۶۲.۰%). CONCLUSION: MIH is a defect encountered by Iranian dental academic staff with a considerable disparity in knowledge and views regarding its clinical pattern.

Molar Incisor Hypomineralization, Iranian Dental Academics, Knowledge