Relationship between Malnutrition and the Number of Permanent Teeth in Filipino 10- to 13-Year-Olds

Abstract

In the present study, we determined whether there is a delay in the eruption of permanent teeth (PT) among Filipino adolescents with stunting or thinness. Height, weight, and number of PT were recorded in 1554 Filipino 10- to 13-year-olds (711 boys; 843 girls). z-scores for height (HAZ) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated according to the WHO growth reference, and their correlations to the number of PT were assessed. 54.9% of the children have at least one form of malnutrition. Significantly, more boys (22.9%) than girls (16.5%) were thin, while no sex difference in stunting was noted (boys 48.5%; girls 44.0%). The number of PT was significantly correlated to HAZ and BMI-z-score. Stunted and thin students had significantly fewer PT than their nonaffected peers. These differences tended to be the result of delay in tooth eruption in thin and stunted adolescents. In 13-year-old girls, all PT were erupted regardless of their nutritional status indicating a catch-up. Thin and stunted boys had one tooth less than normal boys at this age. Impaired physical growth and dental development seem to have common risk factors. Therefore, regular monitoring of growth and dental development might be helpful for targeting support programmes in developing countries.

Height, weight and the number of erupted permanent teeth among 6-16 years old children in Sulaimani City

“…With increasing age the mean total number of teeth present were also increased as more teeth erupts and in all age groups, although not always statistically significant, females had more teeth than males by an average of about 1.4 teeth per child (Average factor = Females mean total number of teeth per child -Males mean total number of teeth per child = 19.2 -17.8 = 1.4 teeth/child), Table 2 and 3. These findings shows that females had earlier tooth emergence than males and these findings go with other research findings from around the world that females had earlier eruption times, hence larger number of erupted teeth present at any specific age/ age groups, and the dentition is completed earlier in females than males (9,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21) .…”

Timing of Permanent Tooth Emergence is Associated with Overweight/Obesity in Children from the Amazon Region

“…Several studies have already shown that the timing of tooth emergence can be influenced by the nutritional status, such as malnourished, overweight and obesity (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Although previous studies in different populations demonstrated that obese and overweight children have more permanent erupted teeth when compared with their controls (3,5-7,9-11), none of these studies were performed in a population of children from the Amazon forest region, which has a completely different genetic, environmental and cultural background.…”

RANKL is associated with persistent primary teeth and delayed permanent tooth emergence

“…The delayed tooth emergence was confirmed by the clinical examination, followed by an evaluation of the number of emerged permanent teeth. Tooth emergence was defined as having occurred if any tooth surface had emerged into the alveolar mucosa . A periapical radiographic examination was performed and children with agenesis, supernumerary teeth and odontomas were excluded from the study.…”

“…Tooth emergence was defined as having occurred if any tooth surface had emerged into the alveolar mucosa. 15 A periapical radiographic examination was performed and children with agenesis, K E Y W O R D S children, delayed tooth eruption, genetic polymorphism, persistent primary teeth, tooth eruption Why this paper is important to pediatric dentists • The processes of tooth eruption and exfoliation are not fully understood. • This paper indicates an association not previously reported between an important regulator of the osteoclastogenesis and tooth eruption and exfoliation in children.…”