Prevalence of organic dyslalia in children aged six to eight years with dental malocclusions attending the dental clinic Dr. Rene Puig Bentz at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña

Dental malocclusion is a condition that affects the alignment of teeth and can also impact the
cranial level, leading to dysfunction in the stomatognathic system, which includes: chewing,
breathing, swallowing, and speaking. The aim of this research was to determine the
prevalence of organic dyslalia in children aged six to eight years with dental malocclusions
who attend the Dr. René Puig Bentz dental clinic. To achieve this, a sample of 47 patients
was analyzed through a cross-sectional observational study. The study evaluated the type of
malocclusion and conducted the TAR phonetic test to assess phonetic errors. Among the
results, 47 (100%) patients presented some form of organic dyslalia. Substitution dyslalia was
observed in 46 (97.90%) patients, omission dyslalia in 37 (78.70%) patients, and distortion
dyslalia in 16 (34.00%) patients. The majority of the study population was male, with 25
(53.20%) patients. In terms of age range, 16 (34.00%) patients were six years old, 13
(27.70%) were seven years old, and 18 (38.30%) were eight years old.The study found that
95.70% of the participants had mixed dentition. Statistical analysis revealed significant
relationships between dental crowding and organic dyslalia, with a distortion value of 5.601
(p=0.024), and between edge-to-edge bite and organic dyslalia, with a value of 3.260
(p=0.048). The results suggest a significant association between dental malocclusions and
organic dyslalia.
Significance of the study this research aimed to analyze and communicate the importance
exercised by the dentist in this process, as well as the adequate awareness of families about
this problem. To publicize the relationship between malocclusion and phonetic disorders and
to show the lack of updated information that exists on the subject, both in the dental and
phonoaudiological fields.
Malocclusions not only affect the habitual contact of the teeth and the upper and lower jaws,
but also affect the facial and cranial levels, causing alterations in functions related to the
orofacial system, including chewing, phonation, swallowing, and breathing.
This research has allowed speech therapists and dentists to have more knowledge in order to
provide a better intervention through phonetic therapies alone or otherwise a more thorough
orthodontic treatment. Speech disorders also affect children on a personal level, as they
cannot pronounce some words correctly, may be teased by their peers, and may affect their
self-esteem.