Parent-Reported Orofacial Health in Preterm- and Term-Born Children: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

Early feeding experiences and non-nutritive sucking habits coexist with the development of orofacial functions and occlusion. This study compared the duration of breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and mixed feeding, as well as parent-reported orofacial outcomes in preterm- and term-born children, and exploratorily assessed associations among these variables.

A cross-sectional parent/caregiver survey used open convenience recruitment in online prematurity-related groups. The main comparison included 108 children (88 preterm and 20 term). Unambiguous duration records for all three feeding modes were available for 92 children and were analyzed as separate quantitative variables.

Among these 92 children, median breastfeeding duration was 6 months (IQR 2-12), bottle-feeding duration was 0 months (IQR 0-12), and mixed-feeding duration was 0 months (IQR 0-5). No preterm-term differences were found for breastfeeding (p = 0.090), bottle feeding (p = 0.357), or mixed feeding (p = 0.586). Each additional 12 months of pacifier use was associated with higher odds of a parent-reported perioral/smile abnormality (aOR = 2.29; 95% CI 1.25-4.19; p = 0.007; q = 0.028).

Longer reported pacifier use was associated with a broad parental perception of smile abnormality after FDR correction; causality and clinical significance cannot be established. The findings require confirmation using clinically verified perinatal data and standardized orofacial assessment.