Koksal, EdaTekcicek, MeryemYalcin, Siddika SongulTugrul, BelmaYalcin, SuzanPekcan, Gulden2020-03-262020-03-2620111210-7778https://dx.doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a3648https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12395/26172Aim: To evaluate the association between anthropometric measurements and dental caries in school children. Methods: The study was conducted on 245 primary school children (50.2% boys, 49.8% girls,), aged 5 to 9 years. The prevalence and severity of dental caries was measured using the decayed, missing or filled surfaces (dmfs, DMFS) and teeth (dmft, DMFT) indices. Results: Mean dmft indices in children for boys and girls were 5.5 +/- 3.92 and 5.0 +/- 3.64, respectively. The prevalence of children with dental caries (dmft >= 1) was 84.9%. The prevalence of children with body mass index (BMI) <-1 SD and >=+1SD was 15.9% and 22.9%, respectively. Dental caries were found in 89.7% of children with low body weight (including underweight and at risk for underweight) and in 66.1% of overweight-obese children (p<0.05). Similarly, high indices were detected significantly more often in children with low body weight (p<0.05). Height, weight, BMI and percent of fat mass were found to be negatively correlated with dmft indices (r:-0.141, p: 0.028; r:-0.171, p: 0.007; r:-0.139, p: 0.030; r:-0.158, p: 0.013, respectively). Conclusion: Children with low body weight have a higher risk of developing dental caries than overweight-obese children. For these reasons, the evaluation of nutritional status in children should be implemented in control programs for dental caries both on the community and individual levels.en10.21101/cejph.a3648info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesspublic healthhealth statusaccess to healthcaregeneral health insuranceprivate health insuranceArticle19314715122026291WOS:000295754300007N/A