Weight and dental eruption: the correlation between BMI and eruption

Abstract

BACKGROUND: When planning dental treatment, particularly in orthodontics, the timing and order of tooth eruption (TE) are crucial considerations. It has been noted that fluctuations in body weight have garnered increasing scientific interest due to their potential impact on TE. The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. An online database search was conducted using the keywords "dental eruption" AND "weight". A total of 14 relevant papers were scrutinised. Various population and age range were employed in different studies to evaluate surface roughness, color change, and surface fracturing. Numerous studies have investigated the impact of BMI on dental eruption, with findings suggesting a positive correlation between being overweight or obese and early tooth eruption. Understanding these relationships is crucial for identifying at-risk populations and developing effective public health interventions aimed at promoting optimal oral health outcomes worldwide. Further research is needed to comprehensively unravel the underlying mechanisms and implications of these associations.