The effect of sucking habits, cohort, sex, intercanine arch widths, and breast or bottle feeding on posterior crossbite in Norwegian and Swedish 3 yea

Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Lutheran Medical Center

Resident’s Name: Craig Elice Date: 4/25/2009
Article title: The effect of sucking habits, cohort, sex, intercanine arch widths, and breast or bottle feeding on posterior crossbite in Norwegian and Swedish 3 year-old children
Author(s): Ogaard B, Larsson E., Linsten R.
Journal: Am. J. Orthod. 106 (2)
Volume (number): 161-6
Date: August 1994
Major topic: Habits influence on posterior cross-bites
Type of Article: Research article
Main Purpose: This study evaluated the prevalence of posterior cross-bites in children from Norway and Sweden and its relationship with sucking habit.
Materials and Methods: 445 3 year olds, 250 from Norway, and 195 from Sweden were included in the study. During the exam, the families were questioned about sucking habits , duration of finger sucking or dummy sucking (pacifier) and if ongoing, gender, and if Swedish. Clinically, intercanine width of both maxillary and mandibular arches were measured, and if a posterior cross-bite was present. As a control, 15 medieval skulls with full primary dentition were measured. No sucking habits were assumed from these skulls.
Findings: Of the posterior cross-bites, 90% involved cuspids. Finger sucking was more common in females. The duration of pacifier use is longer in Swedish children. In finger suckers, posterior cross-bites could be predicted with upper intercanine width while in the pacifier group, posterior cross-bite groups could be predicted with upper and lower intercanine widths. Both arches were narrower in Swedish children, especially in girls, and pacifier use decreased upper and increased lower intercanine width. At least 2 years of pacifier use affected the upper jaw and 3 years in lower jaw. Breast vs. bottle feeding had no influence on the development of posterior. Swedish children tended to have narrower jaws and also a higher prevalence of posterior cross-bites. Norwegian children had a normal or slightly increased prevalence of posterior cross-bites with pacifier use. Intercanine width was significantly influenced by the duration of the habit in years. It was seen that the longer the pacifier habit, the stronger the effect of the intercanine width: decrease in maxillary width and increased mandibular width. “This study supports the hypothesis that in a pacifier habit, the cheeks show increased activity and the tongue repositions back and downward. The low position of the tongue decreases maxillary arch development thus decreasing intercanine width and expands the lower arch causing the lower intercanine width to increase.
Key points/Summary : Nonsuckers showed no relationship between the tested variables and development of a posterior cross-bite. Pacifier use influences development of a posterior cross-bite. And lastly, finger sucking has some effect but it is less certain
Assessment of article: Thorough discussion of the influence of habits on intercanine width. Useful in practice.