title: U-shaped association between untreated caries and body mass index in adults at Rabat dental University hospital, Morocco: cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many previous studies estimating the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and dental decay are conflicting. Most studies, however, examine the relationship using BMI as a categorical variable. This study evaluated the non-linear association between body mass index as a continuous variable and untreated dental decay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of adults free of diseases attending a tertiary dental clinic was conducted. The number of untreated caries at the time of consultation was assessed using the WHO criteria. A multivariable Poisson regression model for severity of untreated dental decay was first established. Restricted cubic spline functions were used to consider potential non-linear associations between BMI and untreated dental caries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After multivariable adjustment, the prevalence ratios (PR) for the number of dental decay remained significantly associated with the age at beginning tooth brushing (PR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.05-1.25), BMI < normal (PR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.30-2.12), BMI > normal (PR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.03-1.65), SDI (PR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.50-0.75) and GI (PR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.30-1.94). When BMI was evaluated as continuous variable, it exhibited a significant U-shaped pattern with the number of untreated dental decay both in univariable and multivariable analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of untreated tooth decay was associated with both under- and overweight status.
authors.affiliation: Research Team on Oral Ecosystem, Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Research, Mohammed V University in Rabat, 6212, Rabat, Morocco. dr_chala@yahoo.fr.|Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Rabat, Morocco. dr_chala@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Sanaa
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6227-9364
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chala
authors.affiliation: Research Team on Oral Ecosystem, Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Research, Mohammed V University in Rabat, 6212, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Manal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Aidouni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Research. Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Redouane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abouqal
authors.affiliation: Research Team on Oral Ecosystem, Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Research, Mohammed V University in Rabat, 6212, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Faïza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abdallaoui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063128:Tertiary Health Care; D014099:Toothbrushing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caries severity; High body mass index; Low body mass index; Non linear association