141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

289528
Relationship between dental caries and changes in body mass and body fat in children during 5 year follow-up

Monday, November 4, 2013

Julia Akeroyd, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, New England Research Institutes, Inc., Watertown, MA
Peter Shrader, MA , Department of Epidemiology, New England Research Institutes, Inc., Watertown, MA
Nancy Maserejian, ScD , Department of Epidemiology, New England Research Institutes, Inc., Watertown, MA
Previous studies have suggested that dental caries in children are associated with obesity, but the direction of the association is unclear. The aim of this analysis was to investigate associations between caries and weight gain over 5 years among 534 children aged 6-10 y at baseline, using secondary data analysis of the New England Children's Amalgam Trial. Multivariable repeated measures models were used to test associations between caries and body mass index (BMI) or body fat percentage (BF%), adjusting for confounders. At baseline, the mean (SD) number of carious surfaces was 9.3 (6.5). Approximately one-third of the children were overweight or obese, with a mean (SD) BF% of 22.9% (10.6). Baseline number of carious surfaces on primary or permanent teeth was not predictive of changes in BF% or BMI-for-age over follow-up. However, greater cumulative treatment levels over time in primary teeth were associated with greater increases in BF% (boys, 10 surface-years Beta=0.12; girls, Beta=0.13, p<0.001); among girls, permanent teeth filled surfaces were also associated with BF% changes (Beta=0.25, p<0.001). Interestingly, children with higher baseline BMI-for-age or BF% had a lower incidence of new caries at the end of 5-year follow-up (BMI z-score, caries Beta= -0.10, p=0.01; BF%, caries Beta= -0.01, p=0.01), adjusting for baseline caries and other factors. These results suggest bi-directional associations between children's oral health and weight gain. Given the epidemic of childhood obesity and high prevalence of caries in children, semi-annual dental visits may be an opportunity for early intervention and prevention of both public health problems.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the relationship between dental caries and BMI and body fat percentage.

Keywords: Oral Health, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the project manager of multiple federally funded grants focusing on epidemiology and public health. I currently manage a clinical study of the effects of dental composite on urinary bisphenol-A levels in children. Among my scientific interests is understanding the relationship between oral health and overall health and pinpointing proper points of intervention for at risk children.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.