Tooth eruption and obesity in 12-year-old children
Available online 26 December 2016
Abstract
Background/purpose
There
is a need to comprehensively investigate the relationship between tooth
eruption and obesity. The study aimed to investigate the relationship
between erupted permanent tooth number and obesity among 12-year-old
children in a population-based study.
Materials and methods
A
random sample of 806 12-year-old schoolchildren in Hong Kong was
recruited. Oral examinations were conducted and the eruption status of
the permanent teeth was assessed. Body height, body weight, waist
circumference (WC), hip circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness
(TRSKF) were measured to assess the adiposity statuses [weight-height
ratio (W/H) and body mass index (BMI) for general obesity; WC and
waist-hip ratio (WHR) for central obesity; and TRSKF for peripheral
obesity]. The relationships between erupted permanent tooth number and
adiposity statuses were examined in bivariate analysis and analysis of
covariance.
Results
The response rate was 82.9% (n = 668/806).
Three hundred and forty-six (50.9%) children had 28 teeth erupted.
Second molars had the highest rate of noneruption (17.5–35.8%). The mean
number and standard deviation (SD) of erupted permanent tooth were 26.4
(2.4). The mean value and SD were 31.1 (6.3) for W/H, 19.8 (3.7) for
BMI, 70.4 (9.4) for WC, 0.82 (0.06) for WHR, and 11.8 (4.5) for TRSKF,
respectively. After accounting for sociodemographic factors, analysis of
covariance identified that W/H, BMI, WC, and WHR were positively
associated with the number of erupted permanent teeth (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
Erupted
permanent tooth number was positively associated with obesity (general
and central) among a population-based sample of 12-year-old children in
Hong Kong.
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