Growth & Development
Ilana Kramer, DDS
PGY1
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Sahar Alrayyes, DDS, MS
Clinical Associate Professor and a Pediatric Dentist
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Afsar Naqvi, PhD
University of Illinois Chicago
Christine Wu, PhD
University of Illinois Chicago
Pamela Whyms, Graduate Student
University of Illinois Chicago
Raza Naqvi, PhD
University of Illinois Chicago
Nicholas Christina, PhD
University of Illinois Pediatrics
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Brittaney J. Hill, DDS, MS, MPH
Program Director
University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Purpose: The mechanism that ties childhood obesity to accelerated dental development is unknown, and there is limited literature regarding oral inflammation in this population. The primary aim is to determine whether or not the presence of inflammatory cytokines alters the biological pathway related to permanent dental eruption in obese children.
Methods: 56 patients aged 10-12 years old were recruited through the University of Illinois – Chicago Post-Graduate Pediatric Dental Clinic. BMI was calculated using height and weight on day of appointment and patients categorized into obese ( >95th percentile, n=34) or normal (5th-85th , n=22) BMI groups. The data collected from participants included: dental development, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and socio-economic questionnaire. Cytokine/chemokine levels (e.g., IL-B, MMP8, MPO, IL-10, leptin, and adiponectin) in GCF were assessed via multiplex bead assay. Data was analyzed using two sample T-tests and Spearman’s rank correlation tests.
Results: Compared with children with normal BMI, children with obesity demonstrated significantly higher levels of MMP8 (P=.018) and adiponectin and IL-10 levels were approaching significance (P=.093 and P=.054) in children with obesity. There was a non-significant trend towards more accelerated dental development in the children with obesity. None of the cytokine levels were correlated with timing of dental development, though MMP8 and adiponectin were approaching significance.
Conclusions: Our results suggest a potential association between MMP8, obesity, and early dental development in adolescents. Research indicates that MMP8 is associated with inflammation and also expressed by odontoblasts in both populations. Further work in this area is needed.