Bottle feeding, increased overjet and Class 2 primary canine relationship: is there any association?

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between bottle feeding and prevalence rates of increased overjet and Class 2 primary canine relationship. The sample consisted of 911 children (461 boys, 450 girls) aged 3 (13.9 percent), 4 (40.8 percent), 5 (34 percent) and 6 (11.3 percent) years, with complete primary dentition. Information about nutritive and nonnutritive (pacifier and/or digit) sucking habits was collected through questionnaires. Three calibrated dentists (κ 0.9-1.0 and Rs > 0.90) performed the clinical assessments. The children were divided into four groups G1 - not bottle-fed; G2 - exclusively bottle-fed; G3 - breast- and bottle-fed, bottle feeding ceased before 3 years of age; and G4 - breast- and bottle-fed, bottle feeding ceased between 3 and 4 years of age. Associations between nutritive and nonnutritive sucking behaviors and the malocclusions studied were analyzed by multiple binary logistic regression (α= 0.05). The frequencies of increased overjet were 25.3 percent (G1), 38.8 percent (G2), 39.2 percent (G3) and 47.8 percent (G4). The percentages of Class 2 canine relationship were 27.9 percent (G1), 48.8 percent (G2), 43.4 percent (G3) and 43 percent (G4). No significant effect of bottle feeding was found. The chances of diagnosing increased overjet (O.R. = 4.42, p < 0.001) and Class 2 canine relationship (O.R. = 4.02, p < 0.001) were greater for children with pacifier and/or digit-sucking habits, compared to those without a history of nonnutritive sucking behavior. It may be suggested that bottle feeding alone is not directly associated with higher prevalence rates of increased overjet and Class 2 canine relationship in the primary dentition.