Prevalence of child malocclusion and its association with time of breastfeeding and/or deleterial habits in children from 2 to 6 years old at public schools in Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil – pilot project

Knowing that the worldwide prevalence of malocclusion in early childhood is 54 %, we carried out a pilot project in the first half of 2022 at Public Schools in Bento Gonçalves RS, evaluating 1938 children between 2 and 6 years old. The prevalence of malocclusion found was 23 %. Anterior open bite, whether or not accompanied by posterior crossbite, was the most prevalent malocclusion. About 70 % of the children were not breastfed or breastfed for less than 6 months, presenting a non-nutritive sucking habit. Assessing 5 years old children alone, this prevalence rose to 54 %. The results reinforce the need of public health policies that promote and support prolonged breastfeeding, which expand the knowledge of parents or guardians and school staff about the adverse effects caused by the use of pacifiers and baby bottles, with the adoption of transdisciplinary measures for the prevention, interception and treatment of malocclusions in a timely manner.