Influence of infant feeding patterns on the deciduous second molar relationship

Background: Pediatricians and pediatric dentists coincide in the great importance of breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life for the correct development of the mouth and for occlusion, breathing and swallowing during childhood. Lower prevalence and severity of malocclusions in breastfed children, in comparison with those that were bottle fed, have been reported. There exists substantial documentation that further credits breastfeeding with enhanced oral development and the formation of proper swallowing technique. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of infant feeding patterns on the deciduous second molar relationship in 3-5-year-old children of selected preschools in and around Mangalore. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured questionnaires were given to parents of children between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Clinical examination was performed with the children comfortably seated, and the molar relationship was checked in maximal habitual intercuspation. Results: The results were statistically analyzed using Chi-square. There was a significant difference between children who were breastfed (84.09% mesial step) and those who were bottle fed (22.2% mesial step). Among the bottle-fed children, the conventional nipple group showed 23.52% of mesial step occlusion while in the physiologic nipple group, 55.26% had a mesial step occlusion. Conclusion: This study supports a correlation between infant feeding methods and primary molar relationship. Exclusively breastfed children showed better development of dental arches with a higher incidence of mesial step occlusion when compared to bottle-fed children