Clinical experience and knowledge of dental hypomineralization by pediatricians and speech therapists

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Abstract
Health professionals can contribute to the timely identification of oral changes. Objective: To evaluate the clinical experience and general knowledge of pediatricians (P) and speech therapists (ST), regarding Hypomineralization and the frequency of referrals to pediatric dentists. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study with a questionnaire. Results: Consisted of P=245 and ST=397. The data were analyzed with a 95% confidence interval using the chi-square test and binomial logistic regression analysis. Pediatricians were 8.7 times more likely to identify Hypomineralization cases in their clinical practice than speech therapists (p<0.022). Group P are significantly more likely (OR=1.9) to know more about the topic than group ST (p<0.001). Both professionals reported not having access to general (83%) or specific (96.6%) information about MIH/HSPM, but training on the topic did not seem relevant (58.4%). The participants often referred patients to pediatric dentists (70.2%). Pediatricians are slightly more knowledgeable and identify cases more.

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