Can malocclusion and respiratory disorders impact school performance? Results of a cross-sectional study

Title: Can malocclusion and respiratory disorders impact school performance? Results of a cross-sectional study

Abstract:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between malocclusion, sleep-disordered breathing and poor school performance in children.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 547 children in the mixed dentition phase, between 07 and 13 years old, pupils at state schools in the city of Santa Maria -RS. A two-stage cluster random sampling procedure was adopted, with nine schools being randomly selected, according to the different administrative regions. The sample was evaluated and the data were obtained by applying questionnaires, and performing dental and speech examinations. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the pathways between demographic, socioeconomic, and oral health measures on school performance. The SEM was composed of the measurement model of latent variables and the structural model by associations between the variables. Academic performance was measured by three variables: parents' perception of the students' academic performance, learning problems, and school failure. Subsequently, the structural model analyzed the magnitude and direction of the paths between the variables observed and latent variables.

Results: Male gender, older age (11-13 years), lower level of maternal education, sleep-disordered breathing, oral or oronasal breathing mode were directly associated with poor school performance. Children who did not receive exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life also showed a direct association with worse performance. In addition, non-exclusive breastfeeding indirectly impacted sleep disorder via oral or oronasal breathing mode.

Conclusion: The initial hypothesis that malocclusions would play an important role in children's sleep quality was not proven in this study, however, we have shown the influence of sleep-disordered breathing on school performance. Moreover, we highlight the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life for the prevention of sleep-disordered breathing.

Keywords: School Performance, Malocclusion, Sleep Disorders.

Biography:

Dr. Débora do Canto Assaf is a Professor (Dentistry) of the Universidade Franciscana in Santa Maria, Brazil. She is a specialist in orthodontics since 2018 at “Orthodontic Study Group”, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is also a specialist in TMD and Orofacial Pain since 2022 at Bauru Orofacial Pain Group, Sao Paul, Brazil. She received his MS and PhD degree in orthodontics in 2019 and 2023 respectively at Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. Has been working in a private clinic since 2015 in Santa Maria.