Effects of non-nutritive sucking habits on malocclusions: a systematic review.

The development of the craniomandibular system is guided by genetic interactions and environmental factors, including specific habits such as breastfeeding, bottle feeding, thumb sucking and the use of pacifiers. These habits can have a considerable impact on the growth of the developing jaws and can lead to malocclusion in children. This review aims to investigate potential associations between non-nutritive sucking habits (NNSHs) and malocclusions compared to the presence of nutritive sucking habits (NSHs). To carry out this systematic review, we followed the PRISMA protocol and performed a bibliographic search of the existing literature until April 2023 in the following electronic databases: Medline, PubMed, The Cochrane Library and Embase. Out of a total of 153 records, we included 21 studies. We found that the chances of diagnosing a malocclusion were higher for children with bottle nutrition when compared to breast-fed children. Breastfeeding provides protection against malocclusions. In the same manner, persistent NNSH habits appeared to be associated with increased chances of having malocclusions. The longer the child was breastfed, the shorter the duration of the pacifier habit and the lower the risk of developing moderate/severe malocclusions. The duration of the habits has a positive influence on the appearance of occlusion defects.

Prevalence of Tooth Transposition among Orthodontic Patients in Spain.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the prevalence of tooth transposition within an orthodontic population and explore its correlation with facial biotype, skeletal class and sex. Material and methods: This study examined a sample of 2,500 initial orthodontic records from consecutive orthodontic patients who received treatment at the Master Universitario de Orthodontia (Madrid, Spain) between 2014 and 2023. Patients exhibiting incomplete or poor-quality medical records were excluded from the study. The chi-square test was used to assess variations in distribution based on facial biotype, skeletal class and sex. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study findings revealed a tooth transposition prevalence rate of 0.28%. No significant differences in prevalence were observed based on sex or facial biotype, but the prevalence of transposition was found to be higher among class I patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of tooth transposition among orthodontic patients is relatively low (0.28%). However, it is more commonly observed among patients with skeletal class I malocclusion.