OBJETIVO: o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar, a partir de um levantamento epidemiológico de base escolar, a prevalência de mordida aberta anterior, analisando a influência do hábito da chupeta no seu estabelecimento. MÉTODOS: na primeira etapa, foi aplicado um questionário aos responsáveis e, posteriormente, foram feitos exames clínicos em 237 escolares de 3 a 14 anos do município Santo Expedito do Sul/RS. RESULTADOS: o tamanho da população, segundo o sexo, foi de 50,3% meninos e 49,4% meninas, com média de idade de 8,6 anos, sendo que 16% possuíam dentição decídua; 50,2%, dentição mista; e 33,8%, dentição permanente. Verificou-se uma prevalência de 22,8% de mordida aberta anterior, obtendo-se associação significativa entre a mordida aberta anterior e o hábito de sucção de chupeta, nas três dentições. CONCLUSÃO: a duração e a frequência do hábito estiveram fortemente associadas à má oclusão de mordida aberta anterior nas dentições decídua e mista.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify from a school-based epidemiological survey, the prevalence of anterior open bite, analyzing the influence of pacifier habit in the school. METHODS: The first step was a questionnaire for the parents, and later clinical examinations in 237 school children, 3-14 years old, in the city of Santo Expedito do Sul/RS, Brazil. RESULTS: The population gender distribution was 50.3% boys and 49.4% girls with a mean age of 8.63 years, and 16% had primary dentition, 50.2% mixed dentition and 33.8 % permanent dentition. There was a 22.8% prevalence of anterior open bite, obtaining a significant association between anterior open bite and the pacifier sucking habit on the three dentitions. CONCLUSION: The duration and frequency of the habit were strongly associated with anterior open bite malocclusion in the deciduous and mixed dentitions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the decision making of orthodontists of Passo Fundo district - Rio Grande do Sul (RS, Brazil), in the Orthodontics/Speech Therapy interdisciplinary treatment of mouth breathing individuals. METHODS: The present study is a quantitative approach and the design is descriptive, using as instrument data collection of a questionnaire sent to 22 orthodontists practicing in the above-mentioned district. The project was approved the the Ethics in Research Committee and all individuals signed a free informed consent. RESULTS: All professionals considered the inter-relation between Orthodontics and Speech Therapy necessary, but divergences were found in situations where a associated therapy may exist, considering that 54.5% trust the inter-relation to develop aspects associated to language, orofacial motricity and habits. In cases of associated treatment, the results obtained were considered satisfactory by 73.7% of professionals, even though they consider that only 6 to 20% of their patients collaborate with treatment. CONCLUSION: In relation to decision-making in treatment of mouth breathing individuals, the orthodontists in Passo Fundo/RS agree that there is need for speech therapy. The full vision of the individual in a multidisciplinary team is of fundamental importance in the treatment of patients with mouth breathing syndrome.