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The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental trauma as compared to the prevalence of dental caries in children aged 3-59 months. A cross-sectional study was carried out during the National Immunization Day for Polio in Recife, northeast Brazil. The sample comprised 3489 children under the age of 5. The clinical examination was performed by 123 previously trained dental students. The inter-examiner agreement for crown fracture was 90.32% and for tooth discoloration it was 83.87%. The prevalence of dental caries was assessed using the dmf-t index. The statistical methods included descriptive analysis and the chi-square test with a margin of error of 5%. A total of 56 142 teeth were examined and the prevalence of dental trauma was 14.9%. Dental fracture was the most prevalent injury observed in 516 teeth (0.9%), followed by discoloration in 191 (0.9%), intrusion in 12 (0.02%) and extrusion in five (0.008%). The most affected teeth were the upper central incisors. The prevalence of dental trauma increased significantly with age and family income (P < 0.0001). Dental trauma was most prevalent from 2 to 5 years of age. The prevalence of dental caries was 14.3%. This prevalence increased significantly with age (P < 0.0001) and with the reduction in family income (P < 0.0001). The results showed that the prevalence of dental caries and dental trauma was similar, and that both caused the same amount of damage to dental health for the target population.

The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the relationship between non-nutritive sucking habits and the presence of anterior open bites (AOBs) and posterior crossbites and their association with facial morphology among 4- to 6-year-old children attending state schools in the city of Recife, Brazil. The sample comprised 287 children, both males and females. The proportion of boys to girls was approximately 50 per cent. The average age was 4 years 5 months at the beginning and 6 years 6 months at the end of the study. Data were collected from interviews with mothers or carers, and the clinical examination was carried out by two calibrated examiners. Statistical analysis was undertaken using bivariate analysis, Pearson's chi-square, McNemar, and Stuart-Maxwell tests. The results revealed a significant reduction in AOB (P < 0.001) and a slight increase in the prevalence of posterior crossbites. Both occlusal traits were associated with a previous history of sucking habits. The most prevalent morphological facial type, assessed using the morphological facial index, was high (> or =88 mm) and a statistically significant (P = 0.02) association was found between facial morphology and an AOB. Children with an average or high facial morphology measurement exhibited a greater prevalence of AOB when compared with those with lower measurements. Self-correction of AOB was associated with cessation of sucking habits but facial morphology remained unaltered.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of non-nutritive sucking habits and anterior open bite as well as their main causes (associated factors) in Brazilian children aged 30-59 months. A cross-sectional study was carried out during the National Immunization Day for polio in the city of Recife in the northeastern region of Brazil. The sample was made up of 1,308 children. Data were collected from interviews with mothers or guardians as well as from clinical examinations carried out by previously trained dental students. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis at 5% significance level. The prevalence of non-nutritive sucking habits was 40%, and the habits were associated with gender (p=0.001), age (p=0.003) and feeding type (p<0.001). Anterior open bite was detected in 30.4% of children, and it was significantly associated with feeding type (p<0.001) and non-nutritive sucking habits (p<0.001). The variables found to be associated factors in the present study for the occurrence of non-nutritive sucking habits and anterior open bite emphasize the need to establish strategies that include orientation regarding health promotion based on the "common determining factors" approach. Public health policies should be adopted to encourage a longer duration of breastfeeding, thereby contributing towards reducing the prevalence of non-nutritive sucking habits and anterior open bite.

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