Exploring the relationship between insulin resistance, wrist circumference, dental age, and skeletal age in growing patients with overweight and obesity: a pilot study

Objectives The global prevalence of childhood obesity has surged in recent years. Children who are overweight or obese frequently exhibit accelerated dental development, skeletal maturation, and earlier onset of puberty. This study explores the relationship between insulin resistance and the advancement of dental and skeletal age in growing individuals. Additionally, it evaluates wrist circumference—an easily measurable clinical marker associated with insulin resistance—as a potential independent predictor of dental advancement in orthodontic patients. Materials and Methods Assessed parameters included chronological age, anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI, waist and wrist circumference, waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]), glucose profile, insulin resistance markers, cervical vertebrae maturation stage (CVMS), and dental age advancement (calculated as dental age minus chronological age). Eighteen patients were stratified into three BMI-based groups: normal-weight subjects, patients who are overweight, and patients who are obese. Results Statistical analysis showed a strong association between BMI and dental age advancement. Wrist circumference and WHtR were stronger and more reliable predictors of skeletal maturation than BMI. Insulin resistance was significantly correlated with dental age advancement, emphasizing the influence of metabolic health on dental development. Multivariate analysis identified wrist circumference and WHtR as key predictors of dental age advancement. Conclusions This study highlights a complex interplay between BMI, insulin resistance, anthropometric measures, and the advancement of dental and skeletal age in children who are overweight or obese. These findings underscore the importance of metabolic evaluation in orthodontic treatment planning. Clinical Relevance: Orthodontists should consider metabolic indicators such as wrist circumference and WHtR in growing patients to identify those at risk of accelerated dental development and allow for more personalized, timely interventions.