Aim:

To determine the association between prevalence of functional malocclusions and oral habits in children with mixed dentition.

Materials and methods:

The sample consisted of 61 patients who attended the UNNE School of Dentistry from April to November 2018, selected through systematic random sampling. Presence of functional malocclusions such as open bite, crossbite, deviated midlines, dental crowding, and maxillary protrusion were evaluated. The oral habits of finger sucking, lingual interposition and atypical swallowing, interposition of lips and objects, mouth breathing, and onychophagia were considered. A descriptive analysis was performed using the Statistical Software InfoStat Version 2019. Chi-square tests were used to determine the association between functional malocclusions and oral habits (significance level P ≤0.05).

Results:

Functional malocclusions were present in 64% of the children, with dental crowding being the most prevalent, in 39%. Prevalence of oral habits was found in 66%, with labial and object interposition having the highest frequency, in 39%. Open bite was more frequent in patients with parafunctional habits such as finger sucking and lingual interposition. The association between functional malocclusions and oral habits was statistically significant (χ2 = 6.17, P = 0.0130).

Conclusion:

High prevalence of functional malocclusions was identified in children with mixed dentition, associated with oral habits.