Relationship between body mass index percentile and skeletal maturation and dental development in orthodontic patients.

Introduction: The rate of obesity in children and adolescents is a current public health concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) percentile and skeletal and dental maturity in adolescent orthodontic patients.

Methods: Orthodontic patients between 8 and 17 years of age were assessed with a retrospective chart review. Skeletal maturation was assessed by using the cervical vertebral method, dental age with the Demirjian assessment method, and weight status with the BMI percentile. Linear regression and logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of the BMI percentile on dental age and cervical vertebral stage, respectively.

Results: For this study, 540 subjects met the inclusion criteria; 27% of the boys and 32% of the girls were either overweight or obese. Cervical vertebral stage and dental age were more advanced in subjects with increased BMI percentiles. For dental age, the coefficient for the BMI percentile was 0.005 year per 1 unit of increase (P <0.001), and the odds ratio for the effect of the BMI percentile on the cervical vertebral method was 1.02 (P <0.001).

Conclusions: Orthodontists should consider weight status when evaluating growing children and adolescents because it can affect skeletal and dental development.