VASCONCELOS, Artur Cunha et al. Prevalence of nail biting in orthodontic clinic. RFO UPF []. 2012, 17, 1, pp. 67-71. ISSN 1413-4012.

Literature has shown that the habit of nail biting is the most prevalent habit during childhood, which may result in long-term structural and functional disorders in the stomatognathic system. This way, the knowledge about its prevalence in school clinics may be important for the implementation of educational and preventive interdisciplinary programs. Aim: to evaluate the prevalence of the habit of nail biting in the orthodontic clinic at the Methodist University of São Paulo. Method: Through a retrospective study, we analyzed the documentation of 1.118 folders of the Graduate program in Dentistry, in the Methodist University of São Paulo, checking the following variables: gender, age, race and presence or absence of nail biting. The results were submitted to statistical analysis (chi-square test at 5% significance level). Results: The sample was composed of people aging from 11 to 20 years old - 82.9%, where 596 were female (53.3%) and 522 male (46.7%), and 27.8% present the habit of nail biting. No significant difference was found between the variables nail biting, gender and age, although a difference had been detected between the deleterious oral habit of nail biting and the variable race (Caucasian and Asians). Conclusion: The deleterious oral habit of onychophagy occurred in 27.8% of the sample and was not significantly associated, in the study group, with age, gender and race, except between Caucasians and Asians.

: Epidemiologic measures; Nail Biting; Prevalence.