Prevalence of Hypomineralized Second Primary Molars and Associated Factors in Preschool Children in Trabzon, Turkiye: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypomineralized second primary molar (HSPM) along with its related factors in a sample group of Turkish preschool children. Methods: A group of 513 Turkish preschool children (29-84 months) from Ortahisar district of Trabzon was selected randomly. Information regarding potential risk indicators was collected through a questionnaire containing questions about sociodemographic status, prenatal, perinatal and postnatal conditions. The HSPM was scored using the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) and P–Pulpal involvement, U-Ulceration, F-Fistula and A-abscess (pufa) index were evaluated. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for statistical evaluation. A p-value below 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The prevalence of HSPM was found to be 6.8% for children and 4.6% for teeth. The most common type of HSPM defect in teeth was white creamy demarcated opacities. In this study, a significant association was found between child age and HSPM (B= -1.074; p < .05). Among the postnatal factors, breastfeeding duration of more than 6 months (B= 1.307; p < .05); in the first year of life no lower respiratory tract infection (B= -0.866; p < .05), having a history of otitis (B= 1.105; p < .05), and renal disease were found to be factors associated with HSPM (B= 2.773; p < .05). Conclusion: HSPM prevalence observed in this study is consistent with prior research, and its associations with early-life conditions—including renal disease, otitis, and extended breastfeeding—reinforce the etiological relevance of postnatal systemic stressors in enamel hypomineralization. These findings warrant further etiopathogenic investigations.