Association between psychological factors, socio-demographic conditions, oral habits and anterior open bite in five-year-old children

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate association between psychological factors, socio-demographic conditions, oral habits and anterior open bite in five-year-old preschool children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 764 pairs of children and parents/caregivers in preschools. The parents/caregivers answered questionnaires addressing oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), sense of coherence, locus of control, oral habits and socio-demographic characteristics. The children answered a self-report questionnaire addressing OHRQoL and were submitted to a clinical examination for the anterior open bite by examiners. Descriptive analysis was conducted, followed by Poisson's regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of anterior open bite was 15.2%. The following variables remained significantly associated with anterior open bite: pacifier use (PR = 7.09; 95% CI: 4.06-12.39), attending a public preschool (PR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.68-3.43), digit sucking (PR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.27-3.62), greater number of residents in the home (PR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.18-2.36) and impact on OHRQoL according to child's report (PR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.11-2.20). CONCLUSIONS: Anterior open bite was associated with OHRQoL according to the children's reports. Moreover, attending a public preschool, a greater number of residents in the home, digit sucking and pacifier sucking were associated with this type of malocclusion.