As we all struggle to maintain an ideal weight this issue is as critical for children as it is for we adults.  Recently, the Journal of Dental Research published a study demonstrating the relationship between obesity and the sequencing of childhood developmental issues, such as eruption of teeth, as well as onset of puberty. 

We, here, at Dr Teresa Wade,D.D.S. are concerned about the timing and sequence of tooth eruption as it carries an importance to overall oral health of a child. Information for this study was gleaned from children aged 5 years up to 14 years of age, during the years of 2001 through 2006; the data was collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). It was analyzed to examine associations between the number of teeth erupted (NET) and obesity status (BMI >95th percentile BMI relative to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth reference). 

The number of teeth erupted at the time when the children had both baby teeth and adult teeth (so named Mixed Dentition) was affected by the child’s obesity; marked by (on average) the teeth of obese children erupted earlier than non-obese children. This earlier eruption pattern will have implications to watch for earlier orthodontic needs and critical to monitor caries control to prevent damage to permanent dentition by dental decay or malocclusions (the improper positioning of the teeth and jaws).

The why of this is poorly understood, multiple mechanisms have an affect upon tooth eruption.  This process where the developing tooth relocates from its position in the bone (osseous crypt) into the mouth (oral cavity). This occurrence is affected by the child’s age, race, and whether the child is male or female. There is a physiology occurring in the child which includes molecular signaling, hormone mediation, and their affect on growth and tooth eruption. These factors affect both permanent and baby teeth, as well as systemic issues of health such as diabetes mellitus and congenital abnormalities. Early detection is important as the timing alteration have the potential to lead to poor oral hygiene, gum disease (periodontal disease), as well as temporomandibular joint disorders.

Here at Teresa Wade DDS-Family Dentistry we earnestly want to be a blessing to your family of dental patients. If we can prevent a cavity for a child we would love to! Really, for everyone to stay healthy would be a dream come true!

As a dentist Dr Jerry Wade and Dr Teresa Wade daily strive to help parents and their children return to health and remain in health by 6-month preventive dental clinic visits. 

We hope you are inspired to live long, to live well, and to live with great intentions. We would love to help you! Come see us soon at 612 Hospital Drive, Andrews, TX, call us at (432) 523-7782, or visit our web:  wadefamilydentistrytx.com   

For more articles visit Teresa WadeDDS-Family Dentistry/nearsay.com/Andrews