Erosive tooth wear, dental decay, and periodontal health in obese and normal weight children and adolescents.

AIM: This study aimed to compare the oral health status between normal weight (NW) and obese weight (OW) children/adolescents. METHODS: Eighty-two participants aged 6-16 years were included in this cross-sectional study. The children/adolescents were classified according to the body mass index (BMI): NW (n = 41) and OW (n = 41). Caries experience was assessed by the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-II), decay, missing, filling teeth (dmft) for the primary teeth and (DMFT) for the permanent teeth, erosive tooth wear using Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE), Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI), probing depth (PD). Also, the relationship between procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 25(OH)D blood biochemistry and oral health was evaluated in obese children/adolescents. RESULTS: Evaluation was made of a sum of 82 children/adolescents, comprising 43 females and 39 males, with a median age of 14 years in the obese group and 13 years in the NW group. Significant differences were determined between patients with NW and those who were obese, particularly in BMI, family income level, and tooth brushing habits. The results of the study indicate that individuals with obesity tend to exhibit significantly higher scores for PI, and GI as compared to those with NW (p < .05) CONCLUSION: Oral hygiene in children with systemic diseases should be treated with a multidisciplinary approach and under regular control by a pediatrician and pediatric dentist, as it may also affect the medical health of the children/adolescents.