Early permanent dental eruption in obese/overweigh schoolchildren

BACKGROUND: The WHO defines obesity as abnormal excessive fat accumulation. Indeed, it is the most relevant nutritional disorder in the developed countries. Nutrition turns out to be relevant for childhood development involving different systems and organs as and including teeth development. Prediction of teeth eruption results of relevance in odontopediatrics and more particularly at transitional stages with mixed dentition. Early teeth eruption can lead to dental defects and eventually to periodontal disease. In addition to this, obesity increases chronic periodontitis risk on teenagers and young-adults. Objectives: The aim of the work is to confirm the relation of weigh and dental eruption on six years old children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 519 six years old children were included on the analytic observational study. Clinical examination was conducted at school, weight and size was registered for BMI index (Kg/cm2). Permanent teeth presence was recorded during examination. RESULTS: Overweight or obesity significantly doubles the probability to find both, the first permanent molars and the lower central incisors. In addition, we report herein a significant association between weight at birth and the first milk tooth eruption. CONCLUSIONS: Early dental eruption is observed in obese/overweight school children compared to normal weigh children. Key words:Pediatric obesity, tooth eruption, permanent dentition.