Correlation of Dental Caries with Body Mass Index in Children Aged 5–14 Years: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim:The main objective of this study was to determine whether there is a significant association between body mass index (BMI) and the presence and number of dental caries in the analyzed participants.Background: In the oral cavity, various modulating factors can result in the presence of dental caries; moreover, this condition is considered to be an infectious-contagious disease that exhibits a broad incidence.Materials and methods: A total of 2,689 children were recruited for this study, with 314 children aged 5-14 years (95% confidence level margin of error of 0.5%).The participants received dental care in 2024 in Quito, Ecuador.Assessments of height and weight were performed, along with the calculation of the BMI and nutritional diagnosis.The patients were classified as obese, overweight, normal, malnourished, or severely malnourished.An odontogram was performed; moreover, the cariogenic index CPO-D (measuring decayed, lost, or filled teeth) was performed on permanent teeth, whereas the ceo-d (measuring decayed, extracted, or filled teeth) was performed on primary teeth. Results:The descriptive analysis revealed a high prevalence of dental caries in all the BMI categories, with percentages ranging from 70.2% in normal-weight children to 84.6% in underweight children.Specifically, children with obesity exhibited a prevalence of dental caries of 76%, whereas those who were overweight exhibited a prevalence of 75.4%.These findings suggest that there is a high burden of dental caries across all nutritional groups, thus reinforcing the notion that both undernutrition and excess weight may be associated with an increased risk of dental disease. Conclusion:This study revealed that there is a high burden of dental caries across all nutritional groups, particularly with respect to the association between BMI and the presence and number of caries.Clinical significance: Diagnosing dental caries is a mandatory diagnostic process in dentistry; however, correlating with diseases should be a priority for dentists, applying it mandatorily in children and adolescents.We present this small analysis that demonstrates correlation with BMI.