May 20–21, 2026 | Barcelona, Spain
Uri Zilberman
Barzilai Medical University Center,, Israel
Uri Zilberman, received his DMD degree in 1983 from the Dental Faculty, Hebrew University, Je rusalem, and his PhD degree in 2000 on basic dental science, especially dental anthropology. Dr. Zilberman has a specialist de gree in pediatric dentistry from 1990 and treated children and adolescents for the last 45 years. Prof. Zilberman is the head of the Pediatric Dental Unit at Bar zilai Medical University Center, a unit recognized for specializa tion in pediatric dentistry since 2007. Associated Professor at the Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Ne gev, Beer-Sheva, and teaches a course on Pathophysiology of the Oral Cavity for fourth year pharmacology students. Prof. Zil berman published more than 90 research papers and chapters in pediatric dentistry and dental anthropology. His main interests are new dental procedures and devices for pediatric dentistry, hereditary disorders and their ef fect on tooth development, and the use of biomimetic materials in pediatric dentistry, like Glass-Ion omers Cements. He developed new dental procedures and a patented new dental device for pediatric dentistry
MIH (Molar Incisor Hypomineralization) is a growing worldwide burden. It affects almost 30% of the children aged 6-16 in Israel and is still increasing. The aetiology is obscure since the defect occurs during the first 2-3 years of life but the clinical expression can be observed after first molar erruption, age 6+. It started with dioxin poisoning of mother milk in 1996 and all the childhood diseases and oxigen shortage to genetic mutations recently. Amelogenesis: During the secretory stage of amelogenesis the ameloblasts start secreting large amounts of enamel matrix proteins. Several proteins are secreted: amelogenin (80-90% of the organic matter), ameloblastin (only 5%) and enamelin (3 5%). The enamel proteins are degradated by two proteases: matrix metalloproteinase 20 (MMP20) and kallikrein 4 (KLK4). We examined the concentration of MMP20 and KLK4 from blood samples of 500 children aged 0-6 years and compared with clinical MIH findings after eruption of the permanent molars. In children wigh MIH the concentration of of KLK4 were significantly lower (P value=0.02). The concentration of MMP20 was higher in the MIH group but without statistical significance. In the absence of KLK4, substantial retention of enamel proteins occurs in the enamel. It may be postulated that the retention of the enamel proteins in MIH/dmh teeth was caused by reduced concentration of KLK4.
