The role of the use of pacifiers in the dento-alveolar development
The course will provide the necessary information to orient the specialists in orthodontics and the pediatric dentists in the choice of the pacifiers that have the minimal negative effects on the dento-alveolar development of a child.
After a short introduction on the physiology of swallowing at different ages, the role of tongue movement and posture in the development of the dento alveolar and facial structures will be addressed, in line with the recent literature,.
The influence of the use of pacifiers on the tongue posture and palatal vault development will be then discussed, in relationship with the age of the child and the duration of the habit.
The following part of the lecture will cover the different characteristics of the available pacifiers, with particular emphasis on the features that may reduce the occurrence of vertical and transversal problems. In the conclusive part, clinical examples of positive effect of the use of a specific type of pacifier will be presented. You will learn:
- distinguish between infantile and adult swallowing pattern
- importance of tongue posture for dento alveolar development
- know the possible malocclusion generated or maintained by the pacifiers
- flat pacifiers reduce the risk for open bite
- other morphologies may reduce the risk for cross bite