6/8/11 Sucking, Chewing, and Feeding Habits and the Development of Crossbite: A Longitudinal Study of Girls from birth to 3 years of Age

Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Resident’s Name:Murphy Program: Lutheran Medical Center - Providence
Article title: Sucking, Chewing, and Feeding Habits and the Development of Crossbite: A Longitudinal Study of Girls from birth to 3 years of Age
Author(s): Erik Larsson, Odont Dr
Journal: Angle Orthodontist
Year. Volume (number). Page #’s: 2001. vol 71, No 2
Major topic: Development of post. X bite
Minor topic(s): various things that may cause xbite
Main Purpose: Follow the development of xbites in pacifier suckers and to determine the possibility of reducing the prevalence of xbite by informing/instructing the parents about sucking habits and reducing the amount of time the child has the pacifier in the mouth

Overview of method of research:
60 Swedish girls, all born from 1995-1997 were followed from birth until age three. Over this time period, 5 interviews/exams were conducted. The child’s eating habits, their habit, if they had one, was discussed, and an assessment of their dentition was completed. Variables assessed at the interviews include the following
1. Breast feeding, duration, and frequency
2. Chewing resistance of food
3. Sucking habits, duration, intensity, changes in intensity
4. Biting/chewing habits
5. xbites, functional interferences
6. Problems with teething
7. Design and material of teat

Findings:
Numerous studies have shown that there is an increased prevalence of post. Xbite in children with artificial sucking habits. These studies indicate that a xbite is more likely to develop in pacifier users as opposed to digit suckers. It has been suggested that when the ‘teat’ of a pacifier is kept in the mouth, the tongue is forced to a lower position, thereby reducing palatal support for the max. canines and molars against the cheeks. Conversely, the tongue will increase lateral pressure on the mand. canines and molars, These changes act synergistically to create a transverse instability, possibly leading to post. Xbite. Profit concluded that pressure must be applied to the teeth for 6h/d to produce tooth movement. Therefore, we must encourage the parents to decrease the amount of time the child uses their paci, or sucks their digits.

90% of the children were breastfed. 72% of the girls developed a paci habit, 10% a digit habit, and 18% had no habit. Interferring contacts were noted in 12 of the girls with the paci habit. In all 12 of the girls, the interfering teeth were the primary canines.

In conjunction with previous studies, it was found that the longer a child is breastfed, the less likely they are to develop a sucking habit.

5% of the girls who were still paci users at age three had developed a xbite. In one girl who had a habit until age 2.5 and had developed a xbite, her xbite self corrected by the 3 year check up. As we have heard many times before, we must try to stop the habit before age 3.

Key points/Summary:
Long term artificial sucking habits can cause posterior xbite. Habits should be stopped at all costs by age 3. We should encourage parents to decrease the amount of time the child has their paci, for example only when they are falling asleep.

Assessment of Article: Good, informative article. Things to remember for boards are 1, Stop habits ASAP, definitely by age 3. 2. Try to educate the caregivers on why it is important to stop the habit, and give them tools and ideas to help them stop it.