Does the position of a bottle during infant feeding influence the jaw's postural position?

• Main Authors: Hua Zhu, Bree Zhang, R G Rosivack
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
• Subjects: anterior crossbite; bottle-feeding; early correction; malocclusion
• Online Access: http://www.jisppd.com/article.asp?issn=0970-4388;year=2019;volume=37;issue=4;spage=405;epage=408;aulast=Zhu

Early correction of anterior crossbite in the primary dentition can encourage proper growth and development of the maxilla and mandible, reducing the need for future orthodontic therapy. Correction is typically initiated after the age of 3 when a fixed or removable appliance can be fabricated and worn. This case study describes an instance of exceptionally early intervention without the use of an appliance. A bottle-fed 10-month-old boy presented with anterior crossbite, and a contributing factor may have been the position of the bottle's nipple during feeding. Correction of the anterior crossbite was achieved in 5 months by changing the bottle position to a counterbalancing angle. Although this technique warrants further investigation, it has the potential to reduce the need for and length of future procedures.