BREASTFEDING AND ITS EFFECTS ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT DENTOCRANIOFACIAL IN 3-5 YEAR OLD CHILDREN OF BATAK ETHNIC

Abstract

Objective: Breastfeeding is profitable but in promotion not reached to the essential health of dental and oral. It is profitable effect while sucking that breastfed may stimulate the growing of the jaws up and strengthen orofacial muscles maximally. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort on 3-5 years old, aimed at having average different of vertical cephalic index, dental arch and palatal depth while baby were breastfed and no breastfed on Batak ethnic. Results : On the Batak ethnic, there was no found differences of average in vertical cephalic index, canine arch depth and posterior segment arch length (p > 0.05). Conclusion : Exclusive breastfeeding may stimulate the growth and development in dentocraniofacial that shall influence the size of dental arch as the main factor to avoid malocclusion