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Clinical and biological indicators of dental caries and periodontal disease in adolescents with or without obesity

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Abstract

Objective

This study aims to assess clinical, microbiological and inflammatory parameters as indicators for caries and periodontal disease in adolescents with obesity.

Material and methods

Twenty-seven adolescents with obesity [body mass index (BMI) 37 ± 4 kg/m2] and 28 controls (BMI 20 ± 2 kg/m2) answered questionnaires and were investigated regarding salivary parameters, plaque pH drop after a 1-min glucose rinse, oral clinical parameters, inflammatory markers in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and sub-gingival mirobiota.

Results

Compared with controls, adolescents with obesity had a lower stimulated salivary secretion rate (1.55 ± 0.63 vs. 2.05 ± 1.05 mL/min, p < 0.05), higher concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) (p < 0.001), more decayed tooth surfaces (3.4 ± 6.6 vs. 0.8 ± 1.1, p < 0.05) and more gingivitis (p < 0.01) after controlling for possible confounders. Overall, similar snacking habits, plaque amounts and numbers of deep periodontal pockets were observed. Following the glucose rinse, a slightly more pronounced drop in plaque pH was observed in the obesity group (p > 0.05). No differences in sub-gingival inflammatory or microbial indicators were detected (p > 0.01).

Conclusions

More caries and gingival inflammation were observed in adolescents with obesity. Of the indicators tested, salivary secretion rate was lower and sIgA levels were higher in the obesity group. We are unable to confirm whether differences in caries and gingival inflammation are due to systemic changes that are associated with obesity or due to possible irregular dietary/oral hygiene habits.

Clinical relevance

Customised oral health preventive programmes and appropriate collaboration with medical personnel in selecting the best diet, medication and psychological support can help improve the general well-being, including oral health, of children with obesity. This may even reduce the risk of oral diseases.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Johan Blomgren and Sigbritt Jansson from the dental clinic in Östra Sjukhuset, and Björn Cassel and Annika Ljunggren from the Periodontology Specialist Clinic at Odontologen for providing space and time to examine the study participants. The authors would like to extend their thanks to Tommy Johnsson for his statistical advice, to Ann-Charlott Börjesson for collecting and analysing the saliva samples, and to Lisbeth Bengtsson for analysing the plaque samples. This study was part of a project sponsored by the Ministry of Higher Education, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Hani T. Fadel & Dowen Birkhed

  2. Department of Periodontology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Per Ramberg

  3. Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Gunnar Dahlèn

  4. Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Division of Periodontology, Taibah University College of Dentistry, Madinah, Saudi Arabia

    Hani T. Fadel

  5. Specialist Clinic in Periodontology, Institute of Odontology, Public Dental Health Service, Göteborg, Sweden

    Anthi Pliaki & Lars Heijl

  6. Obesity Clinic, The Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Eva Gronowitz & Staffan Mårild

  7. Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Periodontology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden

    Tülay Yucel-Lindberg

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  1. Hani T. Fadel
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Correspondence to Hani T. Fadel.

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Fadel, H.T., Pliaki, A., Gronowitz, E. et al. Clinical and biological indicators of dental caries and periodontal disease in adolescents with or without obesity. Clin Oral Invest 18, 359–368 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-013-0972-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-013-0972-9

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