Association Between BMI-for-Age and Eruption Status of Permanent Premolars Among Children Aged 8-10 Years

Authors

  • Rafeef Ahmed Mohamed Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Kufa, Iraq College of Dentistry, Islamic University in Najaf, Iraq
  • Batool M. Al-Fahham Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Kufa, Iraq
  • Noor Mohammed Hadi Layedh Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Kufa, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/d3000.2026.1500

Keywords:

Obesity, Weight, Tooth Eruption, Tooth Development

Abstract

To assess the association between body mass index for age (BMI-for-age, WHO 2007 reference) and the eruption status of the permanent premolars in children aged 8–10 years in Al-Najaf, Iraq, with attention to age and sex. In this cross-sectional study, 497 schoolchildren aged 8–10 years with complete weight and height measurements were examined for eruption of the right permanent premolars. BMI-for-age z-scores were derived from the WHO 2007 reference and used to classify each child as thinness, normal weight, overweight, or obesity. Associations with eruption status were tested using chi-square and Fisher exact tests, and multivariable logistic regression with BMI-for-age z-score, age, and sex as predictors. Thinness occurred in 5.4% of children, normal weight in 65.0%, overweight in 15.3%, and obesity in 14.3%. Higher BMI-for-age was associated with greater odds of eruption of the maxillary second premolar (adjusted OR per SD 1.18, 95% CI 1.01–1.37, p = 0.033) and the mandibular second premolar (1.18, 95% CI 1.0–1.39, p = 0.045). Age was the strongest predictor (maxillary 2.63, 95% CI 1.92–3.61, p < 0.001), and girls had higher odds than boys for the maxillary second premolar (1.7, 95% CI 1.08–2.68, p = 0.023) but not the mandibular one. Thin children did not differ from non-thin children, and the first premolars were not associated with BMI-for-age. Higher BMI-for-age was modestly associated with greater odds of second premolar eruption, with age the dominant correlate and thinness not associated with reduced eruption. These cross-sectional findings implicate adiposity rather than undernutrition and support the use of age-appropriate BMI standards.

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Published

2026-08-14

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Adults & the Elderly

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Rafeef Ahmed Mohamed, Batool M. Al-Fahham, Noor Mohammed Hadi Layedh

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