Featuring Associate Professor Mihiri Silva — Now on Spotify and Apple podcasts
This week on the Living With XLH podcast, we’re joined by Associate Professor Mihiri Silva, one of Australia’s leading experts in paediatric dentistry and mineralised tissue disorders. In this powerful and practical episode, A/Prof Silva breaks down something every family living with XLH knows all too well: the impact of XLH on teeth, enamel, and lifelong oral health.
It’s an episode filled with clarity, compassion, and genuinely useful guidance — the kind that helps families feel informed, prepared, and supported.
What A/Prof Silva explains in this episode
1. Enamel: why XLH affects it — and what families can do
A/Prof Silva unpacks how XLH disrupts the mineralisation of enamel, why this makes teeth more vulnerable, and what early prevention looks like. She speaks to:
- recognising enamel defects early
- the importance of regular dental reviews
- protective strategies that reduce long‑term complications
Her message is clear: early, proactive care makes a meaningful difference.
2. Pain and abscesses: understanding the “hidden” dental burden of XLH
Dental pain and recurrent abscesses are some of the most distressing — and misunderstood — impacts of XLH. A/Prof Silva explains:
- why abscesses occur even without visible decay
- how to manage pain safely and effectively
- when to seek urgent care
- how clinicians can better recognise XLH‑related dental issues
For many families, this part of the episode will feel like someone finally naming what they’ve been experiencing for years.
3. Treatment planning and family support: building a care team that understands XLH
One of the most empowering parts of the conversation is A/Prof Silva’s focus on holistic, family‑centred care. She highlights:
- the value of coordinated treatment planning
- how dentists, paediatricians, and specialists can work together
- the importance of listening to families and validating lived experience
- practical steps parents can take to advocate for their child’s oral health
Her approach reinforces what our community already knows: good care is not just clinical — it’s relational.
Why this episode matters
Oral health is one of the most significant — yet least understood — aspects of living with XLH. This episode brings it into the spotlight with clarity, evidence, and empathy. It gives families the language to advocate for themselves, and it gives clinicians a roadmap for providing better, safer, more informed care.
For the XLH community, this conversation is more than information. It’s validation. It’s empowerment. It’s a reminder that you’re not navigating this alone.
Listen and share
This is an essential episode for families, clinicians, educators, and anyone supporting someone with XLH.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon, Pocket Casts, and Deezer