Dentists’ attitude towards their role in children and adolescent obesity control in the dental office

Although the correlation between the nutritional status and tooth decay is an actual subject in literature, the role of the dentist, particularly the pediatric dentist, in the prevention of obesity in children and adolescents is least studied. (1) While in the past the evaluation of the nutritional status of the child was the responsability of the pediatrician or the general practitioner, nowadays, the high rates of obesity require the modification of this protocol which has become unsatisfactory. The dentist has high potential to perform obesity screening, taking into consideration the regular, generally bianual, doctor visits compared to the sole pediatrician visit, especially when there is no vaccination time. We have performed a clinico-statistical study among different specialty dentists by means of a questionary comprising 13 questions, virtually delivered, with the purpose of obtaining data concerning the involvement of the dentist in the complex issue of nutrition as one of the etiological factors of tooth decay. The results indicate a high interest of the respondents in this matter but with relatively low implication due to lack of time and indistinctive examination protocols. This study offers a picture of the opinions different specialty dentists in Romania have about the role of the dentist in the screening of infantile obesity and about the present but also future attitudes concerning this major health problem. The dentist, especially the pedodontist, is in an unique position of being able to influence the nutrition habbits of children. Due to periodic doctor visits, they are able to monitorize not only oral health but also the nutritional status.