Impact of Oral Habits on Malocclusion in Pediatric Dental Patients: A Dental Educational Institute-based...

Oral habits are repetitive actions involving the oral cavity that can impact dental development. Persistent habits beyond the usual age have been considered deleterious and are likely to affect the development of the craniofacial complex adversely. Among the potential consequences, malocclusion stands out as a prevalent issue. This study seeks to evaluate the relationship between oral habits and malocclusion, enhancing treatment and prevention strategies.

To assess the prevalence of oral habits and malocclusion and to identify the differences in treatment needs between those with and without oral habits.

An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months at a dental educational institute. A prevalidated questionnaire was used to collect history from parents of pediatric dental patients regarding oral habits (tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, and thumb-sucking). In children with positive histories, the habit's presence was confirmed through clinical assessment and diagnostic tests. Malocclusion diagnosis and severity assessment were done following Federation Dentaire Internationale guidelines and using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), respectively. Collected data were analyzed statistically with SPSS version 21 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois).

The prevalence of deleterious habits and malocclusion among the studied sample was 13.2% and 46.2%, respectively. All children (100%) with oral habits (group H) showed malocclusion, while only 46.8% of those without habits (group N) did. IOTN scores significantly differ between groups H and N, showing greater treatment needs in children with habits (p = 0.000). Objective treatment needs (grades V and IV) occurred in 31.6% of children with habits and 2.4% without. Borderline needs (grade III) were noted in 47.4% of children with habits, compared to 2% without. A total of 10.5% of children with habits and 8.7% without reported little need (grade II). Only 10.5% of those with habits and 33.7% without showed no need (grade I).

Within the study's limitations, a higher prevalence of malocclusion with more significant treatment needs is observed in children with deleterious oral habits compared with children who had no habits. Thus, we can assume that environmental factors can play a vast role in the development of malocclusion.

Satti AS, Samudrala P, Sankar AJS, et al. Impact of Oral Habits on Malocclusion in Pediatric Dental Patients: A Dental Educational Institute-based Cross-sectional Observational Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(12):1483-1488.