Advancing the assessment of pacifier effects with a novel computational method

Area of Science:

• Biomechanical Engineering
• Computational Biology
• Pediatric Dentistry

Background:

• Non-nutritive sucking habits, particularly pacifier use, are strongly linked to the development of dental malocclusions.
• Quantifying pacifier impact is crucial for preventing malocclusions and designing safer pacifiers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a computational methodology for precisely assessing the effects of non-nutritive pacifier sucking on infant oral structures.
• To compare the accuracy of different computational models representing palatal anatomy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the solids4Foam framework within OpenFOAM® for computational fluid dynamics and solid mechanics simulations.
• Developed finite element models of a six-month-old infant's palate, incorporating varying numbers of tissue layers (1 to 5) and simulating pacifier and tongue interaction.
• Analyzed stress distribution, displacement, and forces on the palate and dental crowns.

Main Results:

• Simplified palate models (single tissue) yielded less accurate predictions of malocclusion development compared to existing literature.
• The most detailed model, featuring five distinct palatal tissues, produced significantly different and more accurate outcomes.
• Computational analysis revealed distinct stress patterns and forces on dental crowns with increased model complexity.

Conclusions:

• A detailed computational approach, using multi-tissue palatal models, is essential for accurately assessing the orofacial impacts of non-nutritive sucking.
• This methodology can inform the design of pacifiers that minimize adverse effects on dental and palatal development.
• Future research can extend this model to various pacifier designs, sizes, and age groups to further optimize designs.