SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ABOUT DENTAL CARIES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH OBESITY AND/OR OVERWEIGHT

Introduction: Obesity and overweight (O/OW) in children have reached epidemic character and both are a risk factor for chronic serious health problems. This study was perfomed in order to research the relationship between O/OW and dental caries. Matherial and methods: A SR was conducted between 2007-2011 in tertiary information sources (Trip, Cochrane and NGC), secondary (PubMed, IME, MEDES IBECS) and primary (reference checks). Inclusion criteria: Patients (children 0-18 years), risk factor (O/OW) and outcomes (primary: caries, secondary: other oral pathology). Data collected: Author, year, country, type of study, patient age, cases (with O/OW) and controls (body mass index-BMI-normal or low), comorbidities, socioeconomic status, prevalence of caries and other results in oral health. Results: Forty-seven documents were located, 37 of them met the criteria of the RS, temporarily distributed in 2007 (6 articles), 2008 (6), 2009 (5), 2010 (11) and 2011 (9). They presented a very wide degree of heterogeneity (in patients, intervention, primary outcome and type of design), which does not allow to apply quantitative synthesis of data (meta-analysis). Studies are conflicting regarding the relationship between BMI and frequency of dental caries (DMFT, dmft). Conclusions: Systematic review allows dentists and pediatricians to know the relationship between O/OW and dental caries.