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Sucking habits and their relation to posterior cross-bite in 4-year-old children
Insights
Persistent sucking habits in 4-year-olds significantly increase the risk of developing posterior cross-bite. Early intervention by age two is recommended to prevent dental issues like cross-bite in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Child Oral Health
Background:
- Sucking habits are common in early childhood.
- The impact of prolonged sucking on dental occlusion requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between sucking habits and posterior cross-bite in 4-year-old children.
- To determine the critical age for intervention regarding sucking habits to prevent malocclusion.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 588 children aged 4 years in Huddinge, Stockholm, was studied.
- Data on previous and persistent sucking habits, including dummy sucking, were collected.
- The prevalence of normal buccolingual occlusion and unilateral cross-bite was assessed in relation to sucking habits.
Main Results:
- At age 4, 48% of children exhibited ongoing sucking habits, with dummy sucking being most prevalent.
- Persistent sucking habits correlated with a decreased incidence of normal occlusion.
- Children continuing sucking habits past age 2 showed a pronounced increase in unilateral cross-bite, with habit intensity being a significant factor (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Sucking habits, particularly when prolonged beyond two years of age, are strongly linked to the development of unilateral posterior cross-bite.
- Dental professionals should advise parents to manage and discontinue children's sucking habits by age two to promote normal dental development.
Abstract:
Sucking habits and their relationship to posterior cross-bite were studied in 4-year-old children (n = 588) living in the municipality of Huddinge on the outskirts of Stockholm. Previous or persisting sucking habits were registered for 88% of the children with dummy sucking as the dominating type (78%). At the age of 4 years 48% of all children still exhibited some form of sucking habit. The incidence of normal buccolingual occlusion steadily decreased in cases where sucking habits persisted. The increase in unilateral cross-bite occurrence was most pronounced in cases where the children continued sucking after 2 years of age. The variable "intensity of sucking habit" was significantly correlated to the occurrence of unilateral cross-bite (P less than 0.05). From a dental point of view these results indicate that sucking habits in children should be brought under control by 2 years of age.