Role of Body Composition on the Eruption Time of First Permanent Molars

Abstract

Body Composition has been known to have a significant role in the bone maturity process. Heavy children showed to have a more mature phase in the development of their metacarpal bones compared to those of thin children at the same age groups. However, the study on the role of body composition on the eruption times of first permanent molars among children is limited. The aim of this study is to determine the role of body composition on the eruption time of first permanent molars among 6 and 7 years old children living in Jember administration city, Indonesia. Two hundred and thirty four children, age between 6 to 7 years old, were participated in this study. Body composition was assessed by measuring their BMI. The percent total body fat (%TBF) was calculated from BMI using the Deurenberg equation and grouped into thin and fat subgroup using the approach of analytic z score. Oral examinations were conducted to collect the first permanent teeth eruption data. This study found that thin subgroup children showed delayed eruption in all 4 first permanent molars. The fat subgroup showed accelerated eruption in all 4 first permanent molars. This study concluded that the body composition played a significant role in the eruption time of permanent teeth in which fat children experience accelaration of first permanent molars eruption. Chronological age was a weak predictor of first permanent molars eruptive times. Clinical article (J Int Dent Med Res 2019; 12(4): 1563-1567)