Abstract
Introduction: Malocclusion is not a disease and is considered as a developmental disorder of the craniofacial complex.It may cause functional and esthetic disturbances in affected individuals.Environmental factors like dietary habits,nonnutritive sucking habits, bottlefeeding, and reduced duration of breastfeeding have often been implicated with various developmental disorders1. The .increased breastfeeding duration in preventing the development of malocclusion,and establishing a correct occlusal relationship by stimulating the facial muscles during suckling have a great importance. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the relationships among breastfeeding duration,nonnutritive sucking habits,convex facial profile,nonspaced dentition,and distoclusion in the deciduous dentition. Materials and methods: A sample of 250 children aged 4 to 6 years from south Indian population was clinically examined. Information about breastfeeding duration and nonnutritive sucking habits was obtained from the parents and data was compiled. Results: From this study it was found that a statistically significant association was observed between breastfeeding duration and nonnutritive sucking habits. Nonnutritive sucking habits had a statistically significant association with distoclusion and convex facial profile. But the occurrence of convex facial profile and distoclusion was not associated with breastfeeding duration. Conclusion: Thus this study hypothesize that nonnutritive sucking habits may act as a dominant variable in the relationship between breastfeeding duration and occurrence of convex facial profile and distoclusion in deciduous dentition.
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