Obesity in children: a challenge that pediatric dentistry should not ignore--review of the literature.

The link between childhood oral diseases and obesity is demonstrated by their increasing prevalence, potential cause and effect relationship, the significant deleterious effect on the child's present and future oral and systemic health, and the influence of obesity on conscious sedation. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the literature on the relationships between childhood oral diseases and obesity, and between obesity, breathing and conscious sedation. While some reports suggest a connection between caries and obesity others do not, and it is unclear if they correlate or they just coexist since they have common etiologic and/or facilitating factors. Deleterious effects of dental caries and obesity on the systemic condition are clear, may potentiate each other, and facilitate the development and progress of chronic or acute systemic conditions. Obesity may interfere with the possibility to sedate patients because of potential breathing problems, or modify the effect of the sedative agents. Health providers should be aware of the increasing challenge posed by the correlations between dental caries, obesity, oral and systemic diseases. Furthermore, pediatric dentistry should team with other health professions in order to cooperate in the prevention and treatment of these diseases.