Obesity rates are on the rise in this country. Childhood obesity in particular, continues to climb at an alarming rate.

In 2008, The Center for Disease Control estimates that 20% of children ages 6-11 were obese. A new study in obesity, the official journal of The Obesity Society, is shedding some light on how this trend may play a role in dental treatment choices for younger patients.

The study examined the link between obesity and tooth eruption. The findings were that teeth of obese children erupt earlier than those of their non-obese counterparts. Obese children had 1.44 more teeth than the non-obese group.

The authors of the study say that these findings may have clinical importance in dental and orthodontic medicine both n terms of the risk for cavities due to the extended length of time the teeth are exposed to the oral cavity and sequencing, which may include the likelihood of malocclusions (crooked teeth).