Relationship Between Body Mass Index, Occlusion, and Dental Caries among School Children in Riyadh

ABSTRACT Malocclusion and lifestyle diseases like obesity can lead to poor oral hygiene and food stagnation, resulting in increased caries incidence. To evaluate the interrelationship of age, body mass index (BMI), occlusion, and dental decay in children aged between 5 and 14. Our study included 423 school students aged 5-14 visiting dental clinics. Correlation between BMI and DMFT index using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and the association of BMI with gender, age group, and occlusion using the Chi-square test were assessed. The study comprised a larger sample of students aged above 10 years (n = 217) and between 6 and 10 years (n = 183), with Angle’s Class I and II malocclusion being predominant. A weak positive correlation was found between BMI and the missing component of the DMFT index, while significant statistical associations were observed between underweight students below 5 years (8.5%) and obesity in those between 6 and 8 years (53.3%) (P < 0.05). Dental practitioners must pay attention to the BMI of children and consider diet as a major intervention for dental caries prophylaxis.