title: Effects of conventional and orthodontic pacifiers on the dental occlusion of children aged 24-36 months old.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of conventional and orthodontic pacifiers on the prevalence of malocclusion (MO) considering frequency, duration, and intensity of the sucking habit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected at three time-points: birth, T1; (12-24 months old), T2; (24-36 months old), T3 and were divided into three groups: control (GC; 110), without non-nutritive sucking habits; orthodontic pacifiers (GOrth; 55); conventional pacifiers (GConv; 55). A questionnaire was applied. Clinical examination was performed at T3. The groups were compared as to the prevalence and severity of anterior open bite (AOB), accentuated overjet, anterior crossbite, posterior crossbite (PCB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of pacifiers was associated with occurrence of MO compared to GC (P < 0.05). Frequency, intensity, and duration of pacifier use was also associated with of MO. There was significant difference in the prevalence of MO between GConv and GOrth for AOB (P = 0.027). Only GConv exhibited higher odds of PCB compared to GC (P = 0.040). The prevalence of MO was significantly higher in pacifiers users (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of MO was higher among children who used pacifiers. According to a general trend, the use of conventional pacifiers was associated to severe anterior open bite and overjet.
authors: Collective Health (Graduate Program in Collective Health), Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors: Andrea Arraes Dos Santos Jacintho
authors: AA
authors: Lima
authors: Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.|Graduate Program in Collective Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors: Cláudia Maria Coelho
authors: CM
authors: Alves
authors: Graduate Program in Collective Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.|Dentistry, School of Dentistry, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors: Cecília Cláudia Costa
authors: CC
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Orthodontics, São Paulo State University/Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho-UNESP/Araçatuba, Araçatuba, Brazil.|Graduate Program in Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors: Alex Luiz Pozzobon
authors: AL
authors: Pereira
authors: Graduate Program in Collective Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.|Community Health, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Antônio Augusto Moura
authors: AA
authors: da Silva
authors: Collective Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.|Dentistry Course, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.|Dentistry Course, CEUMA University, São Luís, Brazil.
authors: Luciana Freitas Gomes E
authors: LF
authors: Silva
authors: Graduate Program in Collective Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.|Public Health, Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil.
authors: Erika Barbara Abreu Fonseca
authors: EB
authors: Thomaz
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D041361:Pacifiers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D013391:Sucking Behavior