Dysfunctions as Ethiological Factors of Malocclusions in Overweight/Obese Schoolchildren

Objectives: The shape and position of teeth and jaws are influenced by function of masticatory muscles during speech, chewing,
swallowing and by the way of breathing ; they may be altered sometimes by deletrious bad habits.
The aim of the study was to investigate the occurence of respiratory defects, bad habits
and oral dysfunctions in the group of overweight and obese children in comparison with the sample
with proper BMI index.
Methods: A group of 120 children aged from 7 - 15 was investigated; 60 children with alimentary (simple) overweight and obesity including 26 girls and 34 boys. The control group was composed of the same number of children adjusted by gender and age to the study sample. The weight and height of each child were measured. The BMI Index ( kg/m2) calculated, the 85.percentile was a threshold for overweight and obesity assessed together. The percentile charts of BMI elaborated by Institute of the Mother and Child in Warsaw were chosen as investigation tool. Data were derived from two sources:
1. questionnaire filled out by parents and children, with questions about previous or current
respiratory disorders ( recurrent tonsillitis, frequent rhinitis, asthma, respiratory allergies,
sleep disorders with snoring, obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea, adeno - and/or
tonsillectomy )and about bad habits ( finger sucking, nail or pens biting, lips sucking, nocturnal
teeth grinding).
2. clinical trial supported by medical photographic documentation.
Results: Prevalence of improper speech, swallowing and chewing prevalence in both groups were similar
( p = 0.547) . Parafunctions ( bad habits) occurrence was higher in the overweight group ( p = 0.067 )
however without statistical difference. Upper respiratory problems were statistically more prevalent
in the overweight group ( p = 0.023 with coefficient C= 0.203).
Conclusions: Differences in respiratory disturbances and greater number of overweight children expressing bad habits (close to statistical correlation) prove that those factors may contribute to the higher occurrence of malocclusions in the overweight group, having still in mind the multifactorial, genetic and environmental character of orthodontic defects.