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Do breastfeeding and bottle feeding influence occlusal parameters?
Antonio F Galán-Gónzalez1, Teresa Aznar-Martín, Maria E Cabrera-Domínguez
11 Integrated Pediatric Dentistry, University of Seville , Seville, Spain .
Insights
Breastfeeding promotes better dental arch development and occlusion in infants compared to bottle feeding. This study highlights the long-term benefits of breastfeeding for oral health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Oral Health Research
- Infant Nutrition
Background:
- Feeding methods significantly influence infant oral development.
- Understanding the impact of breastfeeding versus bottle feeding on dental arches and occlusion is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of breastfeeding and bottle feeding on dental arch and occlusion development in infants.
- To compare occlusal parameters between exclusively breastfed and exclusively bottle-fed children.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 298 infants (163 girls, 135 boys) from Seville, Spain, was studied.
- Data collected included feeding type (breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding), duration, and stomatognathic system evaluation.
- Parental questionnaires and SPSS statistical analysis were employed.
Main Results:
- 109 infants (36.6%) were breastfed (avg. 6.8 months); 189 (63.4%) were bottle-fed (avg. 18 months).
- Breastfed infants showed more favorable occlusal outcomes, including a straight terminal plane, Class I canine relationship, and presence of diastemas/primate spaces.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with superior dental arch development.
- Breastfed infants exhibit a lower incidence of dental occlusion disorders compared to bottle-fed infants.
Objective:
A study was made of the influence of breastfeeding and bottle feeding on development of the dental arches and occlusion in an infant population.
Subjects And Methods:
In total, 298 infants (163 girls and 135 boys) were selected from a series of 1,643 preschool children in Seville, Spain, evaluating the type of feeding received after birth (breastfeeding only or bottle feeding only), the duration of such feeding, and its influence upon the parameters that define occlusion of the dental arches. The study comprised a full exploration of the stomatognathic system of the infants and a questionnaire for the parents. SPSS Statistical Package software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to analyze the results.
Results:
In total, 109 children were exclusively breastfed (36.6%) for an average of 6.8±5.8 months, whereas 189 children were exclusively bottle fed (63.4%) for an average of 17.99±11.5 months. On comparing the occlusal parameters of the two groups, the most beneficial effects (straight terminal plane, canine class I relationship, diastemas, and primate spaces) corresponded to the infants who were breastfed.
Conclusions:
Breastfed infants show better development of the dental arches and a lesser incidence of dental occlusion disorders than bottle-fed infants.
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