Is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) a risk factor to development of dental caries and molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in children?

Abstract

Introduction: HIV-positive children are susceptible to various infections, and they are often placed on long-term medications to control and/or prevent these infections. It is possible that the ingestion of these medications by the children could result in some form of dental conditions, like dental caries that possibly results from the intake of sugar-containing medications and poor oral hygiene, and or molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) ensuing from the febrile conditions, ingestion of certain medications and/or other chemicals at the time the dentition is developing. c ase s eries: t wo cases of HIV-positive children have been described in this paper, both of which suffered from severe dental caries and MIH. t he treatment included extractions and extensive dental restorative procedures to improve their masticatory function and aesthetics. c onclusion: HIV-positive children may be at a greater risk of developing dental caries and MIH. Keywords: c aries, c hildren, HIV-positive, Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH)