A influência do aleitamento materno e dos hábitos de sucção não-nutritiva no desenvolvimento das más oclusões na dentição decídua: estudo tipo caso-controle

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of nutritive and non-nutritive sucking habits on the development of primary occlusion, using the case-control study design. A representative randomly selected sample of 390 children 3-5 years old from Juiz de Fora MG were studied. Each group, cases and controls, contained 195 children. Nutritive and nonnutritive information was obtained from questionnaires answered by the parents of the children and primary occlusion features were taken from clinical exams. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS statistical software. Chi-square and Logistic regression were the statistical test used with 95% of confidence level. No direct statistical association was found when Breastfeeding and malocclusion were testes. On the other hand non-nutritive sucking habits showed strong association with presence of malocclusion (p = 0,000). When the age the children ceased the pacifier habit was assessed a dose-response association with malocclusion was found. Children that used pacifier longer then 4 years of age were 45.30 times more likely to have malocclusion. The children whom stopped pacifier use at 4 years of age showed 19 times higher risk of developing malocclusion whereas the children the ceased the habit at 3 years of age were 4.46 times more likely to have malocclusion. However, children that had pacifier habit until 2 years of age didnt show greater risk of malocclusion when compared with children that had never had used pacifier. It was conclude that nutritive sucking behaviors are directly associated with malocclusion. The non-nutritive sucking habits, however, are strongly associated with development of malocclusion.