Impact of sucking habits on dental occlusion in preschool children: A cross-sectional study

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ABSTRACT

Aim

To evaluate the relationship between sucking habits (such as thumb sucking and pacifier use) and dental occlusion in preschool children.

Background

The functional development of the oral cavity can be altered by sucking habits in infancy. It is important to know how these can influence the development of malocclusions in the primary dentition and, consequently, can help us to prevent them or reduce the risk factors in the permanent dentition.

Material and methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2022 to January 2023. The sample consisted of 314 patients aged 2 to 5 years attending their first visit to the Service of Paediatric Dentistry of the HM Nens Hospital, HM Hospitales in Barcelona and in the University Clinic of Dentistry of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. Patients with incomplete primary dentition or any diseases that hindered assessment were excluded. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire divided into three sections, covering demographic information, sucking habits, and an intraoral examination of dental occlusion. Malocclusions were assessed in the sagittal, vertical, and transversal planes.

Results

A total of 43.9% had malocclusion. Statistically significant results were obtained between occlusal pattern and nutritive and non-nutritive sucking habits (p<0.001), with a greater alteration in children with non-nutritive sucking habits and bottle-feeding. Pacifier use increased anterior open bite and posterior crossbite (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Breastfeeding promotes proper jaws development and reduces malocclusion risk. Breastfed children used pacifiers and digit sucking less, whereas bottle-feeding was linked to these habits. Girls showed a higher prevalence of malocclusion than boys, and respiratory issues in infancy were associated with increased malocclusion rates. No correlation was found with the type of pacifier nipple, prematurity, low birth weight, type of birth, or lingual frenulum alterations.

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