title: A controlled study of the functional and morphological characteristics of malocclusion in prematurely born subjects with low birth weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prematurely born children show significant delay in many areas of physical development, including the orofacial structures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of premature birth on the prevalence of functional and morphological characteristics of malocclusion in the deciduous dentition phase, considering also confounding variables, such as type of feeding and oral habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through questionnaires and clinical examinations of 80 prematurely born subjects (42 females, 38 males, aged 24.46 ± 1.77 months; PBG) and 113 controls (50 females, 63 males, aged 25.42 ± 2.64 months; CG) in the deciduous dentition phase, data about feeding modalities, sucking habits, and functional and morphological characteristics of malocclusion were collected, and the two groups were compared for differences (chi-square test). Logistic regression analysis was used for risk assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of functional and morphological characteristics was not significantly different (P > 0.05) in PBG compared with the CG, and premature birth was not a risk indicator for any characteristics of malocclusion. The main significant risk indicators for class II/1 malocclusion were dummy (OR = 3.13; P < 0.01) and thumb sucking (OR = 4.41; P < 0.05), while dummy sucking alone was a risk indicator for anterior open bite (OR = 12.19; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, the PBG and CG were close in mean gestational age and birth weight, which might have influenced the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of malocclusion among prematurely born subjects is not significantly different compared with controls, and premature birth is not a risk indicator for any functional or morphological characteristics of malocclusion.
authors.affiliation: * Medical faculty, University of Ljubljana.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Primozic
authors.forename: Franc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farcnik
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ovsenik
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Primozic
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D024343:Open Bite / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013391:Sucking Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous