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Study links dental caries and obesity among children of special health care needs

Researchers have recently observed that there is a positive association between dental caries and obesity among children of special health care needs, according to the study published in the Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry. Obesity and dental caries constitute an important public health problem worldwide. Literature shows various results regarding the association between...
Researchers have recently observed that there is a positive association between dental caries and obesity among children of special health care needs, according to the study published in the Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry.
Obesity and dental caries constitute an important public health problem worldwide. Literature shows various results regarding the association between obesity and dental caries, however the association has been termed as conflicting and inconsistent. Special-needs children are at higher risk of developing dental caries and obesity because of their physical, neurological, or behavioural impairment or due to side effects of the medications they take.
Therefore, Mohamed RN and colleagues conducted the present study to assess the association between dental caries and obesity among children with special health care needs in Taif City, Saudi Arabia.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 (220 girls and 180 boys) special-needs children. Body mass index (BMI) was determined by using height and weight measurements. Dental caries was recorded according to World Health Organization criteria. The association between caries and obesity was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis.
The key findings were-
- 289 (72.3%) children presented with caries with mean dmft and DMFT of 3.9 ± 2.7 and 4.8 ± 2.3, respectively.
- Regression analysis showed specials needs children were at a greater risk of having dental caries: 1.69 times (CI: 0.18-2.62, p < 0.05) greater with obesity; 2.01 (CI: 0.18-3.09, p < 0.05) times greater with sugar consumption; 2.21 times (CI: 1.27-4.12, p < 0.001) greater with cerebral palsy; and 2.27 (CI: 1.29-5.12, p < 0.001) times greater with intellectual disability.
Hence, the authors derived that "the present study showed a positive association between dental caries and obesity among children of special health care needs."
Hence, a focused approach towards the common risk factors is essential to prevent both obesity and dental caries in special-needs children, they further added.
BDS, MDS( Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry)
Dr. Nandita Mohan is a practicing pediatric dentist with more than 5 years of clinical work experience. Along with this, she is equally interested in keeping herself up to date about the latest developments in the field of medicine and dentistry which is the driving force for her to be in association with Medical Dialogues. She also has her name attached with many publications; both national and international. She has pursued her BDS from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore and later went to enter her dream specialty (MDS) in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry from Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences. Through all the years of experience, her core interest in learning something new has never stopped. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751