title: Association of breastfeeding and three-dimensional dental arch relationships in primary dentition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The benefits of breastfeeding on oral health are still inconclusive, especially the association on occlusion. This study aimed to investigate the association of breastfeeding and the development of primary dentition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted with 851 Asian children aged 2-5 years old in Hong Kong. Questionnaires were completed by the parents to collect information on breastfeeding and the non-nutritive sucking habits. The children's dental arch relationships were examined in the sagittal, vertical, and transverse dimensions by an experienced examiner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children who experienced pure breastfeeding for more than 6 months had a lower chance of developing a class II incisal relationship (P < 0.05) or an increased overjet (P < 0.05), and had wider intercanine (P < 0.05) and intermolar widths (P < 0.05). Vertically, no association on the extent of overbite or openbite was found (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pure breastfeeding for more than 6 months is positively associated with primary dental arch development in the anterior sagittal dental segment and on the horizontal arch width in primary dentition. Therefore, pure breastfeeding for more than 6 months is recommended, as it is associated with lower chance of the development of abnormal dental relationships. The results will be valuable for education and promotion of maternal breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. howard_sum@yahoo.com.hk.
authors.forename: Fung Hou Kumoi Mineaki Howard
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Sum
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. zlkxjtu@163.com.|Department of Orthodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital of Nankai University, 75 Dagu Road, Tianjin, China. zlkxjtu@163.com.
authors.forename: Linkun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. bonnieeeeeeee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hiu Tung Bonnie
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. cindypyeung@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cindy Po Wan
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. skyli@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Kar Yan
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. wonghmg@hkucc.hku.hk.
authors.forename: Hai Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. yangyanq@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Yanqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007180:Incisor / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000473:pathology; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D024343:Open Bite / Q000473:pathology; D057887:Overbite / Q000473:pathology; D041361:Pacifiers; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014716:Vertical Dimension