Impact of Early Myofunctional Therapy on Maxillary Arch Growth in Children Aged 4 to 7 with Mild Oral Habits: A Controlled Pilot Investigation

By
Qiwen Xiao
Junqing Ma
July 7, 2026

Frontiers In Pediatrics

Overview

This pilot investigation evaluates the effects of early myofunctional therapy on maxillary arch growth in children aged 4 to 7 with mild oral habits. The intervention group exhibited increases in intercanine and intermolar widths, arch perimeter, and improvements in orofacial muscle function compared to controls.

Background

Oral habits such as thumb sucking and mouth breathing can adversely affect maxillary arch development in young children, potentially leading to malocclusion. Myofunctional therapy aims to correct orofacial muscle function and has been proposed as a non-invasive intervention to mitigate these effects. Understanding its impact on arch growth is crucial for developing preventive orthodontic strategies.

Data Highlights

Measurement	Intervention Group (n=32)	Control Group (n=32)	P-value
Intercanine Width Increase	3.42 ± 1.18 mm	1.87 ± 0.95 mm	< 0.001
Intermolar Width Increase	2.76 ± 1.04 mm	1.45 ± 0.88 mm	< 0.001
Arch Perimeter Increase	4.28 ± 1.56 mm	2.34 ± 1.21 mm	< 0.001
Habit Cessation Rate	87.5%	65.6%	0.038

Key Findings

Intervention group showed a significant increase in intercanine width compared to controls (3.42 mm vs. 1.87 mm; p < 0.001).
Intervention group had a greater increase in intermolar width than controls (2.76 mm vs. 1.45 mm; p < 0.001).
Arch perimeter increased significantly more in the intervention group (4.28 mm vs. 2.34 mm; p < 0.001).
Higher habit cessation rate in the intervention group (87.5% vs. 65.6%; p = 0.038).
Orofacial muscle function scores improved significantly more in the intervention group (p < 0.001).

Clinical Implications

The findings indicate that early myofunctional therapy may be associated with changes in maxillary arch development and habit cessation in children with mild oral habits.

Conclusion

Early myofunctional therapy may influence maxillary arch growth in young children with oral habits. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore long-term outcomes.