PURPOSE:
to obtain the orofacial anthropometric measurements in preschool children from three to five years old and analyze the connection of these data with chronological age, gender, race, and oral habits.
METHODS:
this consisted on a transversal study with 93 children selected through consecutive convenience sample. Parents answered a questionnaire about the oral habits and children underwent odontological and orofacial anthropometric evaluation. The significance level was set at <0.05.
RESULTS:
the averages of orofacial anthropometric measurements were described. There were statistical differences in measures of middle third of the face (p<0.001), lower face (p<0.001), face height (p<0.001) and lower lip (p=0.015) across the age groups. Males showed higher mesures in height of the face (p=0.003), lower face (p<0.001), upper lip (p=0.001) and lower lip (p<0.001) than females. There was no statistically significant difference in the height of the upper lip in non-white subjects (p=0.03). The presence of oral habits did not influence the outcomes. The exclusive breastfeeding for six months influenced the rise of the middle third (p=0.022) and height of the face (p=0.037).
CONCLUSION:
the measurements described in this study were higher than those found in other studies. The orofacial measurement increased with age. The measures were higher on males and non-white children, but not for the presence of oral habits.
Anthropometry; Face; Measures; Child; Child, Preschool
