Association between Mean Age of Eruption of the Permanent Teeth and Body Mass Index among School-going Children of 7–17 Years of Age in Chennai City

Ab s t r Ac t Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the association between mean age of eruption of the permanent teeth and body mass index (BMI) among 7–17-years-old school-going children in Chennai city. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 school-going children of age 7–17 years. It was carried out by a single examiner and an average of 50 children was examined per day. Clinical examination was done to assess the eruption status of the permanent teeth which was categorized according to the criteria given by Pahkala et al.1 Individual height and weight were noted and further BMI was calculated. Results: A total of 196 (49.1%) boys and 204 (50.9%) girls were assessed. Among the 400 children assessed, 19 (4.75%) were underweight, 321 (80.25%) belonged to normal category, 41 (10.25%) were at the risk of overweight, and 19 (4.75%) were obese. Overall, female children were found to have earlier eruption of the permanent teeth compared to males. Also, it was found that the mean age of eruption increased with increasing BMI indicating delayed eruption in obese children. Conclusion: The present study shows a significant association between BMI and mean age of eruption of the permanent teeth among school-going children of 7–17 years of age in Chennai city. Further longitudinal multicentric studies are recommended to determine the exact relationship between BMI and dental development.