Abstract
In addition to heredity, oral habits are considered important factors in the etiology of malocclusion. This study was taken to assess the relationship between Malocclusion and Oral Habits. The sample comprised of 674 orthodontically untreated subjects, 324 males (48%) and 350 females (52%) 12 to 15-year-old schoolchildren from the southern part of Italy. Orthodontic variables and oral habits including mouth breathing and swallowing pattern; thumb, finger and lip sucking; and nail biting of the patients were evaluate. Two examiners, who had been previously trained in the use of occlusal indices, screened all the schoolchildren. The chi-square and binomial test was used to evaluate the data. A total of 589 of the subjects were found to have deleterious oral habits. Nail biting was found to be the most common habit (65.5%) followed by lip sucking (42.7%), mouth breathing (28.6%), abnormal swallowing pattern (22.7%) and thumb sucking (13.2%). Positive association exist between deleterious oral habits and malocclusions; however, there is no significant relationship between the type of oral habit and malocclusions.
Highlights
Malocclusion has a large physical, social and psychological impact on individual and society; (Liu et al, 2009) epidemiological studies are essential to achieve extensive data for creating public health plans for orthodontic prevention
During the last three decades, a notable increase in orthodontic treatment demand has occurred as a consequence of the high perception rate of malocclusions, along with a greater attention to aesthetics
Many studies have been published on the prevalence of malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment in different ethnic groups
Summary
Malocclusion has a large physical, social and psychological impact on individual and society; (Liu et al, 2009) epidemiological studies are essential to achieve extensive data for creating public health plans for orthodontic prevention. During the last three decades, a notable increase in orthodontic treatment demand has occurred as a consequence of the high perception rate of malocclusions, along with a greater attention to aesthetics. Many studies have been published on the prevalence of malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment in different ethnic groups. Perillo et al (2010) evaluated the orthodontic features of 12-yearoldschoolchildren in Southern Italy and found a high prevalence rate of crowding and Class I malocclusion. Souames et al (2006) assessed the orthodontic treatment need in a sample of 9 to 12-year-old French children and reported that the malocclusion status of French schoolchildren was lower than that of European children. Jamilian et al (2010) observed a relatively lower grades 4 and 5 of orthodontic treatment need for high school students in Middle East Many studies have been published on the prevalence of malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment in different ethnic groups. Perillo et al (2010) evaluated the orthodontic features of 12-yearoldschoolchildren in Southern Italy and found a high prevalence rate of crowding and Class I malocclusion. Souames et al (2006) assessed the orthodontic treatment need in a sample of 9 to 12-year-old French children and reported that the malocclusion status of French schoolchildren was lower than that of European children. Jamilian et al (2010) observed a relatively lower grades 4 and 5 of orthodontic treatment need for high school students in Middle East
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