Occlusal characteristics in 3-year-old children – results of a birth cohort study

Aim of this prospective study was to determine prevalence of malocclusion and associated risk factors in 3-year-old Thuringian children.

Three hundred seventy seven children (mean age 3.31 ± 0.70 years; 52.5 % male) were examined. Children had a mean overjet of 2.4 ± 0.8 mm and the mean overbite was 0.8 ± 1.2 mm; 58.8 % of the children had a normal overjet ≤3 mm and 88.8 % a normal overbite with < \( {\scriptscriptstyle \raisebox{1ex}{$2$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$3$}\right.} \) overlap. Prevalence of malocclusion was 45.2 % (10.9 % anterior open bite, 41.2 % increased overjet ≥3 mm, 40.8 % Class II/III canine relationship, 3.4 % posterior crossbite). All children who sucked the thumb had a malocclusion. Children who used a pacifier had greater odds of having a malocclusion at age of 3 years than children without pacifier use (OR = 3.36; 95 % CI: 1.87–6.05). Malocclusion and dental trauma were associated, but not statistically significant (OR = 1.83; 95 % CI: 0.99–3.34; p = 0.062). Malocclusion was not associated with gender, migration background, low socioeconomic status, preterm birth, special health care needs, breathing or dietary patterns (p > 0.05).

Non-nutritive sucking habits were important risk factors for development of a malocclusion in the primary dentition.