Are dentists involved in the treatment of obesity?

Abstract

The morbidity and mortality associated with being overweight or obese have been known to the medical profession to be related with an increased risk of associated diseases. This article provides an overview of obesity and addresses possible strategies for the management of this important public health concern. This narrative review sheds light on the problem of obesity and the necessity of professional oral health care to work in partnership with the medical team for managing obesity. In this regard, general dental practitioners should at least reinforce their knowledge regarding obesity and understand their potential role in the treatment and management of obese patients.

Efficacy of nanoceria for periodontal tissues alteration in glutamate-induced obese rats—multidisciplinary considerations for personalized dentistry and prevention

“…Soft periodontal tissues of rats were excised, minced, treated with collagenase, homogenized, and centrifuged. We determined the total proteolytic activity, the total antitrypsin activity, the content-free fucose and glycosaminoglycanes (GAG), the levels of nitrites anions, and general activity of NO-synthase [12]. Development of oxidative stress in the periodontal tissues of rats was evaluated: the content of TBA-active of products, the content of oxidation-modified proteins (OMB), and catalase activity were measured in the rat periodontal tissues homogenate.…”

“…It is well known that obesity interferes with dental practice and contributes to the development of many diseases, particularly in the oral cavity [12,13]. Dental and oral pathologies are both also early indicators and risk factors for a variety of multifactorial diseases [4] and are frequently caused/overlapped by for a variety of systemic diseases such as obesity and diabetes mellitus.…”

Is it ethical to immobilize patient’s jaws for weight loss? A deontological perspective

“…23 Although dentists are trained to wire jaws, they are not adequately trained to treat, or monitor weight loss. 16 Thus the dentist has a duty not to independently treat patients who require weight loss.…”

“…The dentist can participate in the weight loss treatment of obese and overweight patients only when the dentist is a member of a multi-disciplinary team that is made up of physicians, psychologists, dieticians, bio-kineticists and physiotherapists. 16 When the dentist is part of this team of professionals, the dentist's role is not to diagnose or to follow the progress of the patient's weight loss, but the dentist will be responsible for the aspects of treatment that falls within the scope of dentistry. 16 If intermaxillary fixation is proposed as part of the integrated treatment plan that has been agreed upon by the multi-disciplinary team, then the dentist will be responsible for ensuring that the patient has good oral hygiene and that there is no disease or dysfunction within the oral cavity that is caused by the wiring.…”

Weight Loss and Dietary Changes in the First Three Months of Fixed Orthodontic Treatment.

“…In addition to the factors like: health status, basal metabolism, diet, physical exercise, hormonal balance, race and heredity 12 , patient weight is also influenced by gastric and intestinal 19 intestinal surgery 13 , behavioral regulation 14 , dietary modalities 15 , low glycemic index diet 16 , orthodontic jaw wiring, Dental Device System application and Smart Appliance application. 17 Fixed orthodontic treatment can effect also the overall health of the patients by effecting the patients weight. Scott and Ludwig reported that eating with removable appliances could reduce food in-take, and as a result, orthodontists may have an active role in weight reduction of patient.…”