| Abstrakt | | While a close relationship between form and function is recognized by many authors the degree of interplay is still a matter of conjecture. Studies of the relationship between the functional pattern and the prevalence of malocclusion refl ect one aspect of form/function relationship, adequate understanding of these traits requires longitudinal studies on populations. In a follow-up study in children, aged from 3 to 12 years, the morphological malocclusion severity score was almost the same in the years of growth and development, while the functional malocclusion score decreased signifi cantly. Children with sucking habits have signifi cantly more morphological signs of malocclusion and therefore a higher malocclusion severity score. Functional traits of malocclusion, in particular deleterious sucking habits until the age of 5 are considered a factor of major infl uence in the aetiology of malocclusion. They have a direct infl uence on the developing occlusion, as well as an indirect one by changing the swallowing pattern. In the early period of dental development the morphological severity score is related to the stage of dental development, while at a later period, malocclusion severity score is also the result of incorrect orofacial functions at an early stage of dental development. In children with dummy sucking behaviour, the length of frenulum linguae should be determined early in the period of growth and development, because it is probably a result of improper tongue posture and function due to the changed dynamics in the oral cavity as a result of functional adaptation to diff erences in form and function balance. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
|