MIOTTO, Maria Helena Monteiro de Barros; ROSSI, Fabio Júnior; BARCELLOS, Ludmilla Awad    CAMPOS, Denise Maria Kroeff de Souza. Anterior open bite in 3-5 years-old children. Arq. Odontol. []. 2016, 52, 2, pp. 111-116. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anterior open bite and possible associations with sociodemographic variables as regards non-nutritive sucking habits and the use of baby bottles in 3-5-yearold children. Methods: Cross sectional study with longitudinal design used a random sample selected from a population of 388 children, enrolled in public schools, in rural and urban areas of a southeastern Brazilian city. This sample was calculated based on the following parameters: prevalence of 20%, a confidence interval of 95%, and a 5% error, which resulted in a final sample of 150 children. A substitution criteria was adopted considering a new child that was randomly selected from the same school. Data collection was performed in two stages. The first consisted of a questionnaire directed towards the parents to obtain information about mother’s education, age, gender, sucking habits, and bottlefeeding; the second stage was a clinical examination, carried out by three previously trained examiners to detect the presence of anterior open bite. The exams were performed with children seated in front of the examiner using a 2 mm wooden spatula and under natural light. To confirm the presence of anterior open bite, the examined child should present centric occlusion and not bit the spatula. The chi-square test was used to verify the possible association among the variables. The research project was approved by the Ethics Committee of UFES. Results: A prevalence of 16 % of anterior open bite was found, and it was associated with male gender (p=0.008), finger sucking (p=0.011), use of bottles (p=0.026) and pacifiers (p<0.001). Conclusion: Prevalence of anterior open bite in preschool children was considered important and significantly associated with sucking habits.

: Open bite.; Child.; Malocclusion.; Oral health.; Epidemiology..