Relationship of early weaning and non-nutritive sucking habits with facial development

Objective: To determine the frequency of malocclusion features, convex facial profile and non-nutritive sucking habits among children with and without early weaning. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, from June to December 2020, and comprised of either gender aged 3-6 years. The subjects were clinically examined, and details of lactation period, bottle feeding, thumb and pacifiers sucking were gathered from the parents to assess association with malocclusion. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Results: Of the 180 subjects, 100(55.5%) were boys and 80(45.5%) were girls. There was significant association of early weaning with non-nutritive sucking habits, absent primate spaces, deviated midlines, and complete overbite (p