Approximately 15-20% of the adolescents in Latin American and Caribbean countries have shown some type of dental trauma in permanent teeth, and it seems there is a trend of decreasing prevalence of dental trauma in the studied areas of this region. Boys, adolescents presenting inadequate lip coverage, or an increased overjet greater than 5 mm are more likely to have traumatic dental injuries.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between bottle feeding and prevalence rates of increased overjet and Class 2 primary canine relationship. The sample consisted of 911 children (461 boys, 450 girls) aged 3 (13.9%), 4 (40.8%), 5 (34%) and 6 (11.3%) years, with complete primary dentition. Information about nutritive and nonnutritive (pacifier and/or digit) sucking habits was collected through questionnaires. Three calibrated dentists (κ: 0.9-1.0 and Rs > 0.90) performed the clinical assessments. The children were divided into four groups: G1 -not bottle-fed; G2 -exclusively bottle-fed; G3 -breast-and bottle-fed, bottle feeding ceased before 3 years of age; and G4 -breastand bottle-fed, bottle feeding ceased between 3 and 4 years of age. Associations between nutritive and nonnutritive sucking behaviors and the malocclusions studied were analyzed by multiple binary logistic regression (α = 0.05). The frequencies of increased overjet were: 25.3% (G1), 38.8% (G2), 39.2% (G3) and 47.8% (G4). The percentages of Class 2 canine relationship were: 27.9% (G1), 48.8% (G2), 43.4% (G3) and 43% (G4). No significant effect of bottle feeding was found. The chances of diagnosing increased overjet (O.R. = 4.42, p < 0.001) and Class 2 canine relationship (O.R. = 4.02, p < 0.001) were greater for children with pacifier and/or digit-sucking habits, compared to those without a history of nonnutritive sucking behavior. It may be suggested that bottle feeding alone is not directly associated with higher prevalence rates of increased overjet and Class 2 canine relationship in the primary dentition.

Occurrence of pulp polyp in traumatized primary teeth is not frequent and is associated with the age when traumatic dental injury occurs but does not interfere directly with the therapeutic approach.

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