Correlation Between Frequencies and Durations of Bottle-Feeding Towards Maxillary Dental Arch Size in 7-9-Year-Old Children

Abstract

Bottle-feeding is one factor that affects the growth and development of the jaw in infants. It is a normal habit at a certain age. However, if there is prolonged bottle feeding, its frequency and duration can impact and interfere with jaw development. This study aims to establish the correlation between bottle-feeding frequencies and durations toward the maxillary dental arch size in 7-9-year-old children. This study was a cross-sectional study with 42 subjects of Javanese children aged 7 to 9 years who had a bottle-feeding habit. These subjects were taken their dental study models. The frequency and duration of bottle-feeding were obtained from the parents' questionnaire. The maxillary was measured in anterior and posterior-lateral size (inter canines and molars), anterior and posterior sagittal size (midpoint between the right and left permanent central incisors perpendicular to the inter-canines and inter-molars), by sliding calipers. The data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation. This study showed significant correlations between bottle-feeding frequencies and laterally dental arch size in the posterior direction (p=0.013; r=-0.379) and in the sagittal posterior direction (p=0.017; r=-0.366). There were significant correlations between bottle-feeding durations and laterally dental arch sizes, both in anterior (p=0.011, r=-0.387), posterior (p=0.025; r=-0.346) directions and also in the sagittally anterior dental arch size (anterior: p=0.004, r=-0.432). It can be concluded that there were correlations between frequencies and durations of bottle-feeding toward maxillary dental arch size in 7-9-year-old children.