Relationship of oral nutritive and non-nutritive habits with posterior crossbite in deciduous dentition among a group of 3-5 year-old children in Esfahan

Sucking habits have long been recognized to affect occlusion and dental arch characreristics. The aim of this study was to determine the association between nutritive (breastfeeding and bottle feeding) and non-nutritive (thumb or pacifier sucking) habits and posterior crossbite in the primary dentition. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 preschool children aged 3-5 years. The crossbite group (n=100) consisted of children with posterior crossbite and the normal group (n=100) was made up of children without posterior crossbite. Information on breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and non-nutritive sucking habits was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using chi-squared test and student’s t-test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Risk factors for posterior crossbite in preschool children were bottle feeding (OR = 2.1), thumb sucking (OR = 3.6), and pacifier sucking (OR = 2.0). No association was noted between breastfeeding for more than 1 year and posterior crossbite(p value = 1). Under the limitations of the present study, it appears posterior crossbite in the primary dentition in preschool children is directly related to bottle feeding, thumb sucking and pacifier sucking habits.