Association between obesity and early tooth eruption in adolescents: Findings from a popu-lation-based cohort study in southern Brazil

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a prevalent chronic condition affecting children and adults worldwide, and it seems to influence the timing of tooth eruption. The aim of this study was to assess the as-sociation between weight status at age 12 and the eruption of permanent teeth at ages 12 and 14-15 among schoolchildren from southern Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, and included a representative sample of 1,528 12-year-old schoolchildren. After 2.5 years, 801 individuals were reexamined. Baseline data collection included a questionnaire, the record-ing of anthropometric measures (height and weight), and clinical examination to register the number of erupted permanent teeth. At follow-up, the eruption stage of second perma-nent molars was recorded. Statistical analysis used Poisson regression. RESULTS: Overweight and obese individuals were 32% and 88% more likely to have com-plete permanent dentition at age 12, respectively (overweight, PR=1.32, 95%CI=1.13-1.55; obese, PR=1.88, 95%CI=1.75-2.02). Obese 12-year-olds were more likely to present erupt-ed #17, #27, #37, and #47 at age 12 and to present completely erupted second molars at age 14-15 than normal weight ones. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study found a significant association between over-weight/obesity at age 12 and early tooth eruption at ages 12 and 14-15 among schoolchil-dren from southern Brazil. Key words:Tooth eruption, Obesity, Permanent teeth, Epidemiology.