Childhood Obesity, Genetic Variation, and Dental Age.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if dental ages are more advanced in overweight children and influenced by genetic variation. Methods: Panoramic radiographs from 577 children were obtained. For performing genetic studies, an additional 236 subjects had panoramic radiographs and whole saliva samples collected. Genotyping of IGF, FGF, and FGFR markers was done. Dental age was determined in 177 patients utilizing Demerjian's method and panoramic radiographs. Skeletal maturation was determined in 28 patients using Baccetti's cervical vertebral maturation method on lateral cephalograms. PLINK was used to test for over-representation of alleles. Results: FGF7, FGF10, and FGF13 were significantly associated with obesity (P = 0.02). When dental age was considered, overweight and obese children are more likely to have dental ages more advanced than their chronological ages (P = 0.05). An excess of heterozygotes of FGF18 rs4073716 was found in children with dental age more advanced than their chronological age (P=0.04). Conclusions: Overweight and obese children have dental ages more advanced than their chronological ages, and this occurrence may be influenced by genetic variation in FGF18.

Maxillary arch width and buccal corridor changes with Damon and conventional brackets: A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Damon self-ligating and conventional bracket systems on buccal corridor widths and areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective sample of consecutively treated patients using either conventional (CG, n  =  45) or Damon self-ligating (SL, n  =  39) brackets was analyzed to determine any differences in buccal corridor widths and areas both within and between groups. Pretreatment and posttreatment frontal photographs were transferred to Photoshop CC, standardized using intercanthal width, and linear and area measurements were performed with tools in Photoshop CC. Ratios were then calculated for statistical analysis. Relationships between arch widths and buccal corridors were also examined. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the posttreatment intercanine or intermolar widths either within or between the CG and SL groups. There were no significant differences in any buccal corridor width or area measurement either within or between the CG and SL groups. There were strong correlations with the intercanine width and the corresponding buccal corridor smile width measurements. There was an inverse correlation with the buccal corridor area in relation to the canine and the total smile width. CONCLUSIONS: It is likely that posttreatment increases in arch width can be seen in patients treated with either a conventional bracket system or the Damon system. It is highly unlikely that there is any significant difference in buccal corridor width or area in patients treated with the Damon self-ligating system or a conventional bracket system.