title: Efficacy of a novel pacifier in the prevention of anterior open bite.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to test a novel pacifier (Dentistar) regarding the development of anterior open bite in infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-nine newborn children were randomly assigned to 2 experimental groups: NUK (N; N =73); and Dentistar (D; N=56. Children (N=42) who did not use a pacifier served as the control (C). At 10- to 26-months old, the children were re-examined (via a blind operator) regarding the existence of an anterior open bite.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty-one toddlers (66 females, 55 males) were included in the final analysis (N: N=42; D: N=43; C: N=36). The mean age was 15.9 (±3.9 SD) months. In Group N, 16 children (38%) showed an anterior open bite, 2 (5%) in Group D, and 0 in Group C. The incidence of open bites was significantly less in Groups D and C vs N (chi-square test, P<.001). No significant difference was found between D and C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pacifier use may promote open bites in 16-month-old infants. Compared to a commonly used pacifier, the Dentistar caused almost no anterior open bites and, therefore, can be recommended for children younger than 16 months old.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany. Stefan.Zimmer@uni-wh.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: Claudia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Barthel
authors.forename: Ruzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ljubicic
authors.forename: Mozhgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bizhang
authors.forename: Wolfgang H M
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Raab
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D024343:Open Bite / Q000517:prevention & control*; D041361:Pacifiers; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric