Association of obesity with the eruption of first and second permanent molars in children: a systematic review

Association of Body Mass Index and Chronology of Tooth Eruption in Children visiting a Dental Hospital in UAE: A Cross-sectional Study

The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the mean age at which permanent teeth erupt in school-going children. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study at RAK College of Dental Sciences, UAE, involved 89 children aged 6-14 years. Erupted teeth in the mouth were included. Statistical analysis, including t-tests, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis, was conducted using SPSS version 29, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results: Out of 89 children (41 girls and 48 boys) in the study, 56.17 % had normal weight, 20.22 % were overweight, 17.97 % were underweight, and 5.6 % were obese. Female children generally experienced earlier permanent tooth eruption than males. Additionally, there was an observed trend of earlier tooth eruption with increasing weight or BMI. Underweight children notably displayed a delayed mean age of tooth eruption. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a notable correlation between BMI and the mean age at which permanent teeth erupt in school-going children aged 6 to 14 years who visited our dental hospital. To establish a more precise understanding of the connection between BMI and dental development, we recommend conducting further longitudinal studies involving multiple centers. Clinical Significance: Monitoring a child's BMI is crucial for assessing dental health and planning tailored treatment for those aged 6 to 14. Understanding the BMI's connection to permanent tooth eruption timing allows dental professionals to identify trends in early or delayed development. This enables them to customize treatment strategies, promoting a precise and personalized approach for better oral health outcomes in this age group.

Salivary microbiome diversity in Chinese children with various caries states

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore oral microbiome diversity among children with various caries status based on dmft scores.

METHODS

A total of 320 children aged 3-5 years were recruited, with 66 healthy children and 254 children affected by dental caries. According to dmft scores, these children with dental caries were classified as "mild group" (dmft score 1-3), "moderate group" (dmft score 4-6), and "severe group" (dmft score 7-14). Healthy children with dmft score of 0 served as control group. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was employed to analyze all salivary samples collected from these children.

RESULTS

The salivary microbial diversity among four groups was similar (p > 0.05). A total of five bacterial genera were highly abundant in the control group including Bergeyella, Acidimicrobiales, Acidimicrobiia, Halomonas, and Blautia (p < 0.05). For mild group, there were nine bacterial genera identified to be predominant: Porphyromonadaceae, Porphyromonas, Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae, Weissella, Leuconostocaceae, Alphaproteobacteria, Stenotrophomonas, and Rhizobiales (p < 0.05). Only one genus, Aggregatibacter was predominant in moderate group (p < 0.05). There were six bacterial genera (Alistipes, Lachnoclostridium, Escherichia-Shigella, Romboutsia, Sphingomonadales, and Denitratisoma) enriched in severe group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Oral microbial profile was different in children with various caries status based on dmft scores.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The results might be beneficial to deeply understand microbiological diversity of early childhood caries (ECC) at various stages and inform effective strategies for ECC prevention.

Association between Molecular Mechanisms and Tooth Eruption in Children with Obesity

Different works have reported earlier permanent teething in obese/overweight children compared to control ones. In contrast, others have reported a delayed permanent teething in undernutrition/underweight children compared to control one. It has been reported that becoming overweight or suffering from obesity can increase gingival pro-inflammatory drive and can affect orthodontic treatment (among other complications). In this sense, little is known about the molecular mechanisms affecting dental eruption timing. Leptin and adiponectin are adipocytokines signaling molecules released in overweight and underweight conditions, respectively. These adipocytokines can modulate osteocyte, odontoblast, and cementoblast activity, even regulating dental lamina initiation. The present review focuses on the molecular approach wherein leptin and adiponectin act as modulators of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx 2) gene regulating dental eruption timing.

Evaluation of the Relationship between the BMI and the Sequence and Chronology of Eruption in Permanent Dentition in Spanish Population

The aim was to analyze the relationship between BMI (body mass index) and the sequence and chronology of the eruption of permanent teeth in a sample of Spanish children. Methods: The study design was descriptive, cross-sectional, observational, and epidemiological. Patients of pediatric age were included. Emerged teeth, and patient’s age, race, and sex were recorded. The nutritional status of the child was assessed by calculating the BMI, according to the WHO parameters. Statistical analysis was carried out with a confidence interval of 95%. A prediction model with logistic regression models was obtained. Results: A total of 725 pediatric patients between 4 and 14 years old were analyzed. BMI acts as a predictor variable for eruption symmetry, as it was most frequent in overweight children (p < 0.001). The probability of symmetry in dental eruption increases for South American children, for an extra month of age, and each meter of height. BMI had an influence in the first tooth to appear only in the fourth quadrant. BMI did not seem to influence present teeth, and the sequence of permanent dental eruption was not influenced by the BMI category. Conclusions: Age, weight, height, and BMI act as significant predictors for eruption symmetry. BMI does not produce alterations in the eruption sequence of the permanent dentition.

Nutrition, obesity, and dental development in young adolescents in Chicago

OBJECTIVES

Childhood obesity is a systemic disease with multiple downstream consequences, including shifts in timing of growth and development. It has been documented that children with high body mass index (BMI) show accelerated timing of dental development, but the mechanism for this acceleration is unknown. Prior work has suggested that inflammation and/or nutrition may play a role. We investigate the potential association between diet (caloric intake, macronutrients), obesity, and accelerated dental development.

METHODS

Children and adolescents (age 10-15; n = 112) were recruited from dental clinics at the University of Illinois Chicago. We collected subjects' height, weight, panoramic radiographic records, and each subject filled out a Block Food Frequency Questionnaire.

RESULTS

The only macronutrient level associated with BMI was a negative correlation to Total Fat consumption (p = .01), though this relationship was not significant in the path analysis (p > .05). Regression analyses indicated that BMI (p = .003) and total caloric intake (controlling for BMI; rho = 0.19; p = .04) were both significantly correlated with timing of dental development. However, when a path analysis was conducted, it was revealed that only BMI was statistically significant (p = .008).

CONCLUSIONS

Body mass index percentile, regardless of caloric intake, is positively associated with accelerated dental development. While it is possible that excess caloric intake itself plays a minor role in timing of dental development, we do not see unambiguous evidence for this in our sample. We posit that another mechanism, such as inflammation, may be the link between obesity status and dental development.

Effect of Dietary Pattern on the Emergence of Permanent Teeth of the Children of Larkana, Pakistan

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the association of eruption of permanent teeth of Sindhi children of Pakistan with the consumption of wheat, rice, meat, and milk.

Methodology A team of two dentists (one male and one female) and two assistants (one male and one female) was trained and calibrated before the study and visited all the 26 selected schools on the prearranged time and date and all the children from kindergarten 1 to class 8 were screened. Children with at least one “just erupted” tooth were taken out of the class for further examination. Number of days of eating meat, rice, vegetable, and milk in a week along with date of birth and some other personnel information was recorded on a questionnaire sheet.

Results One thousand two hundred five cases were collected from 26 schools, located in the city of Larkana and its suburbs. The minimum median value belonged to tooth number 16 and the maximum value was for tooth number 27. Twenty-two out of 28 teeth (79%) showed early eruption who consumed the meat more frequently than lesser time. Twenty-three out of 28 teeth (82%) showed early eruption for the children who consumed the vegetable diet a lesser number of times as compared with more frequent. Nineteen out of 28 teeth (68%) showed delayed eruption for those who consumed the rice a lesser number of times as compared with more frequent. Eighteen out of 28 teeth (64%) showed early eruption for the children who consumed a lesser amount of milk as compared with a greater amount.

Conclusion The study concludes that a protein-rich diet accelerated, while calcium, mineral, and carbohydrate-rich food items delayed the eruption of permanent teeth among the children of Larkana.

Oral hygiene and oral microbiota in children and young people with neurological impairment and oropharyngeal dysphagia

This study compared the oral hygiene and oral microbiota in children and young people with neurological impairment and oropharyngeal dysphagia with and without gastrostomy. Forty children and young people participated in this study: 19 females and 21 males, aged 2 to 22 years (mean age 8.6 years). Participants were divided into two groups: group I (GI = 20) with gastrostomy and group II (GII = 20) without gastrostomy (with oral feeding). Oral hygiene was assessed using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (SOHI). Analysis of two bacteria, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, was performed by collecting saliva using an oral swab, then mRNA expression was evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The oral hygiene index had a general median of 2.2, and the two groups were statistically different (Group I: median 2.9 and Group II: median 2.0) (p = 0.01751). Bacterial analysis indicated 13 individuals with S. mutans and none with S. sobrinus. Of the 13 individuals with S. mutans, 6 were from Group I and 7 from Group II. Those with gastrostomy had worse oral hygiene, and both groups harbored the bacterium S. mutans.

Nutritional Status is Associated with Permanent Tooth Eruption in a Group of Brazilian School Children

The present study aimed to investigate the association between nutritional status with delayed tooth eruption (DTE). Oral examination was performed in schoolchildren (8-11 years old), and DTE was defined by absence of dental gingival emergence or when primary tooth was still present in the oral cavity after the expected time. BMI z-score of each child were collected and nutritional status was defined. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression adjusted by age and gender were performed. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) were calculated. The established alpha was 5%. Among 353 included children, 247 were classified as eutrophic, 16 as underweight, 64 as overweight, and 26 as obese. Underweight was associated as a risk factor to DTE (P = .014; OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.3-9.8), and underweight girls had more chance to present DTE than eutrophic girls (P = .048; OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 1.1-17.2) in chi square test. In logistic regression, underweight was associated as a risk factor to DTE (OR = 4.21; CI 95% = 1.42-12.43; P = .009). Underweight children have a higher risk of DTE in permanents.