Study Summary

The perfect alternative


Effect of a thin‐neck pacifier on primary dentition: a randomized controlled trial.

Wagner, Y., & Heinrich‐Weltzien, R. (2016)

Orthodontics & craniofacial research, 19(3), 127–136

A study of the effect of a soother with a thin teat neck on children with previously diagnosed malocclusions.

Conclusions

This scientific study confirms the supportive effect of the MAM Perfect for healthy tooth and jaw development. It gives health care professionals confidence when advising parents who use soothers for their babies.

Background

Non-nutritive sucking is very common in babies: between 60% and (sometimes over) 80% of babies calm themselves through non-nutritive sucking. A soother usually helps in sleep, to relieve stress or in the context of painful treatments. However, the excessive use of a soother can lead to malocclusions and to very difficult weaning off this habit. This study investigated the extent to which the MAM Perfect, with its unique thin and flexible teat neck, might affect existing misalignments.

Methods

Carried out at the University Hospital of Jena, Germany, this study examined 86 children (before the exclusion procedure n=106) aged 16-24 months, who were already diagnosed with an enlarged anterior/incisor stage and/or an open bite (≥2 mm). In the randomized controlled study, participants were divided into three groups. Group 1 changed from the previ-ous soother to the soother with a thin teat neck. Group 2 remained with the conven-tional soother and Group 3 tried to wean babies off the soother during the course of the study. After 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, the toddlers were again examined by two different dentists.

Key Findings

  • This study shows for the first time the advantages of a soother with a thin and flexible teat neck compared to a conventional soother with regard to a soother-induced overbite.
  • The study results show that the use of a soother with a thin teat neck has a positive effect on the further development of the teeth in the case of existing misalignments.
  • Weaning off the soother is still the most effective way to reduce misalignments, but this is also more difficult. Three children in Group 3 started to suck their thumbs after weaning off the soother. If weaning off the soother is done in a timely manner, spontaneous remodeling of misalignments may occur.
  • In the final examination, it was shown that the thin nipple neck was just as effective as complete weaning for a more horizontal overbite at the time of examination.

MAM Service

Yiu can find the full study at: mambaby.com/professionals