Obesity ‘can affect orthodontic development and oral tissues’

New research from the UK has offered evidence of the impact that obesity can have on the oral health of young people.

Led by the King's College London Dental Institute, the research analysed the oral development of two cohorts of young people with an average age of 15 years, with one group being of normal weight and the other classified as obese.

By analysing samples of saliva and gingival crevicular fluid, it was found that obese young people had significantly increased inflammatory biomarkers in their periodontal tissues prior to treatment.

This, in turn, was associated with a much more pronounced initial displacement of the teeth during the first week of treatment, as well as a significantly increased rate of tooth movement over the alignment phase.

Richard George, director of external relations for the British Orthodontic Society, said: "The findings that pro-inflammatory markers in obese young people are able to influence the alignment phase of orthodontic treatment immediately prompts the suggestion of how this condition might influence other aspects of treatment."

The fact that obesity can affect how teeth respond to fixed braces may also potentially influence root resorption and long-term stability, it was noted.

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