To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) percentile and biological maturation indicators, including skeletal age, dental age, and tooth development, in children from two distinct regions of Türkiye. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 1011 orthodontic patients aged 6–18 years from Eastern Anatolia (n = 582) and Central Anatolia (n = 429). BMI percentiles were calculated using age- and sex-specific reference values and categorized as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Skeletal maturation was assessed using the Björk–Grave–Brown hand-wrist method and cervical vertebral maturation staging, while dental age was estimated using Demirjian’s method with Williams scoring. Statistical analyses included independent samples t-tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression. Children from Eastern Anatolia exhibited higher BMI percentiles, whereas those from Central Anatolia demonstrated significantly greater skeletal and dental ages. Girls showed higher chronological and skeletal ages than boys, while dental age and BMI percentile did not differ significantly by sex. Significant differences in skeletal age–chronological age discrepancy across BMI categories were observed in girls but not boys. Regression analysis revealed significant negative associations between BMI percentile and biological maturation indicators in both sexes. Higher BMI percentiles were associated with delayed skeletal and dental maturation. Regional differences suggest environmental and nutritional influences on growth, highlighting BMI as a relevant adjunct parameter in orthodontic growth assessment and treatment planning.
Cigerim et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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