[Prevalence of oral habits and teeth alterations in schoolchildren from Valencia (Spain)].
BACKGROUND
Oral habits are acquired through the repetition of actions that serve to calm an emotional need of the child. All these oral habits can change the position of the teeth and arches. Pediatricians should identify these habits to instigate successful treatment.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of oral habits in 1,100 Valencian schoolchildren and identify the dental alterations associated with these habits.


METHODS
Between January and June 2003, 1,100 children aged between 4 and 11 years old were examined by two observers, a dentist and a pediatrician, who were specially trained to detect anomalous habits.


RESULTS
The prevalence of each of the distinct habits studied varied.


CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions of our study were: a) the prevalence of oral habits was 53 %; b) no differences in oral habits were found between boys and girls, and c) open bite, maxillary cross-bite and overjet can be related to oral habits, although this association was not statistically significant.
Paredes Gallardo
V
V
Centro de Salud Serreria, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Valencia, Spain. clinicaparedes@medynet.com
Paredes Cencillo
C
C
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology