Name: Manuela Hrit
Institution: McGill UniversityEmail: manuela.mandu@mail.mcgill.ca
Project Title
The impact of obesity on malocclusions
Short Project Description
Over the past 25 years, obesity has become an epidemic in Western societies. Statistics Canada reports that two out of every three adults in Canada are overweight or obese. Although there is growing evidence showing an association between chronic oral diseases (dental caries1, periodontal disease2) and obesity, there is scarce evidence to date on the response of craniofacial complex and hence dental arches to an overall increase in adiposity measures. Bone metabolism, which leads to changes in growth and development, has been shown to be different in those who are obese. Leptin, known as the obesity hormone and recognized to regulate appetite and metabolism via hypothalamic mediators, has been shown to be important in the development of the skeleton. Leptin knock out mice (ob/ob) have shown an increased bone density, mineral content, and total bone area following systemic leptin administration3. Similarly, facial development studies of obese patients noticed significantly larger mandibular length and width but reduced upper facial structure, as compared to the normal-weight patients4. Nonetheless we are not aware of any study investigating the impact of bone and soft tissue on the development of dental arches in obese patients and the perceived need of orthodontic treatment of obese and overweight persons.
My study’s aim is to demonstrate that adiposity is associated with atypical craniofacial growth and development, which leads to malocclusions.
My study questions are: Is there an association between adiposity and malocclusions? And if so, is the association mediated through leptin release?
My research project stems from a large ongoing cohort study –NDIT cohort (The Natural History of Nicotine Dependence in Teens), which followed adolescents for almost 10 years in relation to smoking habits and life style, and on which we desire to introduce an oral health component. This prospective study involves more than 1200 youths aged presently 20-21 years.
References
1 Hong L et al. Obesity and Dental Caries in Children Aged 2-6 Years in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002. J Public Health Dent. 2008 Mar 31.
2 Ylöstalo P et al. Association between body weight and periodontal infection. J Clin Periodontol. 2008 Apr;35(4):297-304.
3 Hamrick MW et al. Leptin treatment induces loss of bone marrow adipocytes and increases bone formation in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. J Bone Miner Res. 2005 Jun;20(6):994-1001
4 Ohrn K et al. Craniofacial morphology in obese adolescents. Acta Odontol Scand. 2002 Aug;60(4):193-7
Academic Qualifications
MSc in Biophisics and Medical Phisics, Romania (2001)
MSc in Dental Sciences, McGill University (2007)
DMD McGill University (2008)
Most Recent Publications
Hrit, M. Acceleration of Bone Formation in Distraction Osteogenesis by Bone Morphogenetic Protein – 7. 2007 M.Sc. in Dental Sciences Thesis.
Mandu-Hrit M., Haque T, Lauzier D, Kotsiopriftis M, Rauch F, Tabrizian M, Henderson J Hamdy RC. Early Injection of OP-1 During Distraction Osteogenesis Accelerates New Bone Formation in Rabbits. Growth Factors, 2006 24(3):172-83.
Haque T, Mandu-Hrit M, Rauch F, Lauzier D, Tabrizian M, Hamdy RC. Immunohistochemical Localization of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-Signalling Smads during Long-Bone Distraction Osteogenesis. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 2006 54(4):407-15.
Mandu-Hrit M, Seifert E, Haque T, Rohlicek C, Tabrizian M, Hamdy RC. Up-regulation of VEGF without Angiogenesis in a Rabbit Model of Distraction Osteogenesis following OP-1 Injection. Growth Factors – accepted for publication.
Mandu M. Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensors for DNA Hybridization – Chemical Development of the Sensisng Surface. 2000. M.Sc. in Biophysics and Medical Physics Thesis.