Prevalence of Posterior Cross Bite in 3-5-Year-Old Children from Vitória, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of posterior cross bite and the possible association with deleterious oral habits in 3-5-year-old children from Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Material and Methods: This retrospective observational study with a longitudinal design used as parameters for sample calculation prevalence of 35%, confidence level of 95% and error of 5%. The final random sample included 903 children, proportionally distributed according to the number of children enrolled per school. Thus, the representative sample of 9,829 children enrolled in public schools of Vitória was guaranteed. A questionnaire with six open and eighteen closed items was used to collect data on socioeconomic status, age, sex and deleterious habits. Clinical exams were carried out by trained examiners (Kappa 0.86) for posterior cross bite diagnosis. The association between variables was verified by the Chi-Square Test and Fisher Exact Test. Odds Ratio evaluated the association strength. This research was approved by the UFES Ethics Research Committee. Results: The prevalence of cross bite was of 16.2% and children that used pacifier were two times more likely to develop posterior cross bite (OR = 1.775; CI 95% = 1.242; 2.537). Conclusion: The prevalence of posterior cross bite was expressive, and thumb sucking and pacifier use were considered risk factors. Association was verified with the habit of using pacifier, increasing twice the likelihood of presenting malocclusion and posterior cross bite.

The effects of thumb sucking habit on the development of malocclusions in preschool age children in Hilla city

“…In addition to that thumb sucking habit appeared to increase possibility of developing such malocclusion by 40 folds. This study concluded that there is no statistical difference between the cases group and controls group in the occurrence of posterior cross bite this result in accordance with Singh et al and Miotto et al (12,22) but, disagree with results of previously conducted studies (27,30) who found that the posterior cross bite had been observed to directly associated with oral habits The adjusted odds ratio for posterior cross bite was giving an indication that thumb sucking habit was a risk factor and increasing 3 times the likelihood of the development of posterior cross bite. From comparing the occurrence of malocclusions in cases group only the study showed that the frequencies of malocclusion are not age related neither gender related as there is no statistical difference among age and gender groups in the occurrence of malocclusions attributed to the oral habit this agree with Adair study (31).…”

“…A previously conducted studies mentioned that posterior cross bite attributed to dummy sucking habit rather than thumb sucking habit (8,11,(20)(21)(22) . The harmful effect of thumb sucking habit on development of occlusion was found to be the main reason behind mothers attempts to stop this habit in their children (23) .…”