Caries experience and salivary constituents among overweight children aged 6-11 years in Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: The overweight and obesity have serious health consequences including the health of oral cavity;
therefore this study was conducted to assess the dental caries and some salivary constituents among the overweight
children and compare them with the normal weighted children of the same age and gender.
Materials and methods: The total sample composed of 478 children aged 6-11years, 239 normal weighted and 239
overweight children. The assessment of nutritional status was performed using Body Mass Index specific for age and
gender. The diagnosis and recording of dental caries was according to Manji et al (1). Salivary sample were collected
under standardized condition and then analyzed for estimation essential elements (zinc, copper, and calcium) by using
flame atomic absorption spectrophotomerty (AAS) while the iron and total protein level by using spectrophotometric
analysis.
Results: The results showed that the caries experience for primary and permanent dentition among the overweight was
highly significant lower than that among the normal weighted children The data analysis of the present study found that
the level of salivary copper, zinc, calcium, and total protein were higher among the overweight children than the normal
weighted children while the salivary iron level was lower among the overweight than that among the normal weighted
children, however all the difference were not significant.
Conclusion: Many salivary elements that were found to be higher among overweight children could protect oral tissue
from diseased condition.
Key words: Overweight, nutritional status, dental caries, salivary elements. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2010;22(2):75-80).