Impact of Increased Body Mass Index on Adolescent Fixed Orthodontic Treatment. A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Exclusion Criteria

• •self-reported habitual tobacco product users;
• •patients with self-reported medical diseases such as hepatic diseases, blood disorders, cardiovascular diseases, HIV, diabetes mellitus, and viral infections;
• •patients with craniofacial syndromes and/or cleft lip and palate;
• •pregnant and/or lactating females (by self/parent report);
• •edentulous individuals;
• •patients with active or a history of periodontitis;
• •patients having undergone surgical and/or non-surgical periodontal therapy within the past 6 months;
• •patients with physical and/or mental/cognitive disabilities who are decisionally-impaired and not able to consent/assent for themselves;
• •patients who reported use of medications such as antibiotics, steroids (inhalers and/or pills), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antimicrobial mouth-rinses within the past 3 months or those who require prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental procedures;
• •patients undergoing cancer therapy;
• •underweight patients (BMI less than 18.5 Kg/m2);
• •patients with oral mucosal lesions such as median rhomboid glossitis and lichen planus;
• •patients with clinically visible carious teeth.