Profile of orofacial dysfunction in Brazilian children using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening

Abstract

Objective: The parameters of orofacial dysfunction (OFD) in children can guide clinicians and researchers in the monitoring of deviations from normality. The aim for this study was to evaluate manifestation patterns and the prevalence of OFD in children.

Materials and methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 531 schoolchildren (8–10 years old) in a small city in southern Brazil. OFD was evaluated using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S). Poisson multiple regression analysis with robust variance was used to estimate adjusted NOT-S rate ratios (ratio of arithmetic means) among the different categories of covariables and their respective 95% confidence interval (RR: 95%CI).

Results: The mean NOT-S score was 2.1 (SD 1.4, median: 2.0; range: 0–8). The majority of children (87.6%) had at least one domain of the scale affected. The most affected were Chewing and Swallowing (50.5%), Habits (41.4%) and Breathing (26.4%). NOT-S scores were lower among children from higher income families (RR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61–0.87) and higher among those with difficulty regarding access to dental services (RR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.01–1.28), those with sleep bruxism (RR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.04–1.32) and those with open bite (RR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.42–1.93).

Conclusions: The prevalence of OFD was high and both socioeconomic and clinical factors exerted an influence on NOT-S scores.

Keywords:

• Child
• sleep disorders
• stomatognathic system
• oral health

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), which is a Foundation within the Ministry of Education in Brazil, for the financial support.

Notes on contributors

Bianca Lopes Cavalcante-Leão, DDS, MsC is an Adjunct Professor. Her research focus is centered in Orofacial Dysfunction and Public Health.

Sara Regina Barancelli Todero, DDS, MSc, is a clinical dentist. Her study interests are oral traumatology and oral dysfunction.

Fernanda Morais Ferreira, DDS, MsC, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor of Pediatric Dentistry. Her research interests include cariology, oral health literacy, quality of life in children and adolescents.

Maria Beatriz Duarte Gavião, DDS, MSc, PhD, is a Full Professor of Pediatric Dentistry. Her research interests include oral physiology, health behavior, TMD and bruxism in children and adolescents.

Fabian Calixto Fraiz, DDS, MSc, PhD, is a Full Professor of Pediatric Dentistry. His research interests are child feeding practices, oral health education and bruxism in children and adolescents.