Má oclusão moderada e severa aos cinco anos de idade e tempo de gestação: análise de uma coorte de nascimentos

Abstract

The etiology of malocclusion is multifactorial, resulting from genetic and environmental factors. Children of preterm birth may present biological and behavioral characteristics that may favor the development of malocclusion. Faced with the increased prevalence of preterm births and its association with medical complications, postnatal treatment and disorders of growth and development, this study aimed analyze the association between preterm birth and the presence of malocclusion to 5 years old and test the hypothesis that children of preterm birth present a higher prevalence of moderate and severe malocclusion than children fullterm birth, but its effect on malocclusion can be modified second behavior during the course of life. The sample included 1129 children who participated in the examination of oral health nested in a birth cohort in Pelotas started in 2004. All examinations were accompanied by a questionnaire applied to the mothers, with questions about the children, the mother and family socioeconomic conditions. To estimate the occlusal problems present at 5 years of age, the WHO diagnostic criteria were used. Data were analyzed using the program STATA 12.0. Descriptive analysis was performed and the association between malocclusion and potential risk factors was tested using tests of association chi-square and chi-square test of linear trend when appropriate. To investigate the independent association of exposures in the occurrence of malocclusion, Poisson regression analysis was performed, estimating the Prevalence Ratio (PR) and respective confidence intervals (95% CI). The prevalence of moderate / severe malocclusion was 24.1% in full-term children and 42.2% in preterm infants (p <0.001). In the adjusted analysis, were risk factors for malocclusion: lower maternal education, preterm birth, head circumference at birth less than or equal to the percentile 10, shorter breastfeeding and pacifier use. The interaction test showed that both the breastfeeding duration of as the habit of pacifier sucking until 4 years modified the effect of gestation time on the prevalence of moderate or severe malocclusion. The results of this study confirm the initial hypothesis that children of preterm birth have a higher prevalence of malocclusion, independent of risk and protective factors known.