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

Exploring the relationship between insulin resistance, wrist circumference, dental age, and skeletal age in growing patients with overweight and obesity: a pilot study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Exploring the relationship between insulin resistance, wrist circumference, dental age, and skeletal age in growing patients with overweight and obesity: a pilot study Camilla Grenga, Rosanna Guarnieri, Roberto Giorgio, Gabriele Veroi, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7206446/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in Clinical Oral Investigations → Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract 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. Insulin resistance Obesity Pediatric Tooth Eruption Orthodontics Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in Clinical Oral Investigations → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 05 Nov, 2025 Reviews received at journal 14 Oct, 2025 Reviews received at journal 29 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 27 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 04 Aug, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 29 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 29 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 24 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7206446","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":495956716,"identity":"2f9fd065-20f9-4b39-9607-02d9cd56e815","order_by":0,"name":"Camilla 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