Abstract
Children born prematurely often exhibit orofacial dysfunction. We conducted Nordic Orofacial Test Screening and analyzed chewing and swallowing functions of 243 children aged 3–5 years, consisting of 142 and 101 children born full-term and preterm, respectively, to evaluate the orofacial function of preschool premature children. Categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square test for a comparison. The univariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the effects of birth weight, gestational age, intubation at birth, use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure support after birth, and use of nasogastric tube on the chewing and swallowing functions of children born prematurely. In this survey, term-born children had a higher incidence of bad oral habits, grinding teeth while sleeping, and abnormal gulping compared to preterm-born children. Preterm-born children had a higher incidence of choking, decreased mouth opening (<30 mm), abnormal dental arch form, abnormal palatal vault, and dysarthria compared to term-born children.
Highlights
Pureed soft foods were introduced at 4.0–4.1 months of corrected age to children born preterm and with birth weight < 1501 g, but they were introduced at 4.8–5.1 months to term-born children and children with birth weight > 1500 g
Our study revealed that because of the introduction to pureed soft foods before 4 months of age, the percentiles of the growth curve and body mass index (BMI) curve were poorer in 3–5 years old premature children than in full-term children
Poor birth conditions and the use of a feeding tube and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in premature infants are associated with an increased incidence of choking, abnormal mouth opening (
Summary
Preterm birth is the leading cause of death worldwide for children
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