Patrycja Pietrzak, W. Hanke
2012
Citations
0
Influential Citations
3
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Dental and Medical Problems
Abstract
Malocclusion is a lack of balance between bones of the facial skeleton, size and shape of teeth, tongue, lips and cheeks, which can be seen as an aesthetic problem. The most common and most frequent environmental aetiologic factors, which can cause malocclusion, are parafunctions (digit sucking, nail biting, bruxism) and dysfunctions (e.g. mouth breathing; infantile type of swallowing). Digit and pacifier sucking are one of the most frequent parafunctions and may cause Class ii malocclusions, increased overjet, decreased overbite, open bite, posterior crossbite with smaller maxillary width. Dysfunctions such as persistent infantile type of swallowing observed together with parafunctions may result in an increase of malocclusion severity. in children with persistent infantile type of swallowing Class ii malocclusion, increase in both maxillary and mandibular overjet, open bite, crossbite, crowdings in upper arch can be observed. The duration of any parafunction or dysfunction is also important. Habits, which are seen at or beyond 48 months of age, almost always cause malocclusion. sometimes separating one single aetiologic factor in each case is difficult. Therefore, the environmental influence on the aetiology of malocclusions remains a complex issue (Dent. Med. Probl. 2012, 49, 4, 588–593).