Periodontal Disease and Body Weight Assessment in Children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess body weight and periodontal disease development in obese and normal weight children. METHODS: Eighty-eight 5- to 10-year-old children participated in this study. Periodontal measurements included the visible plaque index (VPI), community periodontal index (CPI), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Complete periodontal examinations were performed in some children with CPI codes three and four. Anthropometric examination consisted of body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), which was adjusted by age according to percentiles. The groups were divided into children of normal weight (<small>N</small>=43, BMI less than 85 per age) and obese children (<small>N</small>=45, BMI greater than 97 per age). RESULTS: The results showed that the obesity group showed significant proportions of CPI codes one (44.2%) and three (7.4%), when compared with normal weight subjects (P<0.05). VPI was similar between both groups (P>0.05). BOP was higher in obese patients than in children with normal weight (P<0.05). CPI zero was more prevalent in normal weight subjects (62.6%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Obese children seem to be more susceptible to periodontal disease.