Oral habits in patients seeking orthodontic treatment at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

Abstract

Background: One common sequelae of malocclusion is individuals indulging in different kinds of oral habits that are detrimental to the developing occlusion. The persistence of these different oral habits could affect the occlusion in a number of ways which include increased overjet, decrease overbite, anterior open-bite and posterior cross bite.

Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence of different oral habits in patients presenting at the orthodontic clinic and their occlusal manifestations.

Design: Clinical based retrospective study.

Setting: University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Subjects: 234 orthodontic patient’s case notes as well as the clinic daily attendance records of those who presented for treatment over a period of forty two months. The socio-demographic data, type of oral habits and the presenting malocclusion by the patients were extracted. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Level of significance was set at p<0.05.

Results: The mean age was 14.94 ± 6.92 years. Sixty eight point eight percent (161) had no persistent habit while 32.2% (73) had one form of habit or the other and in some cases patient indulge in more than one form of oral habit. Oral habit prevalence was found to be 31.2% and digit sucking was the most prevalent oral habit. Associated occlusal anomalies observed were 53.4% and 31.5% (P=0.009) for increased overjet and anterior open bite respectively

Conclusion: There is a steady rise in the prevalence of oral habits and this is associated with an equivalent rise in different occlusal manifestations. Therefore, there is a need for increased dental education.