Ensuring children's health to support their optimal physical and psychological growth into strong, healthy, and high-quality adults is a valuable investment. One crucial aspect is maintaining oral and dental health, which plays a significant role in social well-being.
During her inauguration as a Professor in Pediatric Dentistry on Tuesday (14/1) at the UGM Senate Hall, Prof. Drg. Sri Kuswandari, M.S., Ph.D., Sp.KGA., Subsp. KKA(K) discussed habits that contribute to abnormal tooth and jaw alignment in children. She delivered a scientific speech titled: "Oral Bad Habits, as a Cause of Malocclusion in Children: What is the Role of Parents and Pediatric Dentists in Prevention?"
Malocclusion, or the misalignment of teeth and jaws, can be caused by various factors, including oral bad habits such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing, and excessive gadget use. Prof. Sri Kuswandari emphasized the crucial role of parents in monitoring and preventing these habits from an early age.
A study conducted by the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at FKG UGM on 384 kindergarten students from 14 districts in Yogyakarta revealed that 44.5% of children showed signs of malocclusion, including protruding upper front teeth, deep bite, crossbite, lower teeth touching the roof of the mouth and open bite.
According to a survey conducted in Yogyakarta kindergartens, common oral bad habits among children include thumb sucking (nonnutritive sucking), mouth breathing, prolonged bottle feeding, lip biting, bruxism (teeth grinding), slouched head and body posture ( while using gadgets), tongue thrusting (tongue thrusting).
Prof. Kuswandari stressed the active role of parents in reducing the risk of malocclusion. "Mothers should practice proper breastfeeding techniques until the child is 24 months old, provide textured foods to stimulate jaw growth, limit screen time, and encourage outdoor physical activities," she stated.
In addition to parental involvement, pediatric dentists (Sp.KGA) also play a vital role in early detection and prevention of malocclusion. Pediatric dentists are often the first to identify craniofacial problems in children, which parents may not notice until the condition worsens. What seems like a minor issue can develop into severe malocclusion.
Key aspects of pediatric dental examinations include general health checks (height, weight, posture), ntraoral and extraoral examinations, identifying oral bad habits , assessing eating patterns and dental plaque control.
Prof. Sri Kuswandari concluded her speech by emphasizing that malocclusion prevention should begin from birth. Strong collaboration between pediatric dentists, parents, and healthcare providers is essential to support children's optimal growth and development.
Author and Photo: Fajar Budi H.
