Effect of different pacifier designs on orofacial tissues: a computational simulation comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: This study analyzes the effects of different pacifiers on the malocclusion formation, emphasizing the significance of pacifier design. Based on a computational model of pacifier sucking developed by the authors, the study provides insights dependent on pacifier geometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A computational model was developed, consisting of the palate, pacifier, and tongue, including six tissues: mucosa, cortical bone, cancellous bone, and alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, and teeth. Three types of pacifiers were analyzed: orthodontic, standard, and conventional. The geometries were obtained from manufacturers and modeled using Blender™ software. The model was implemented in the OpenFOAM(®) library to calculate tooth displacement, exerted force, and stress distribution on the palate tissues. RESULTS: The results provide a clear comparison between pacifier models, showing that well-designed pacifiers, Orthodontic (OP) and Standard (SP), are significantly less harmful to oral structures than the Conventional Pacifier (CP). OP and SP reduced the volume of the region subjected to high von Mises stress (0.05–0.01 MPa) on the palatal mucosa by 95.70% and 93.95%, respectively, when compared to CP. Furthermore, they led to a maximum reduction in mean tooth displacement of 79% (OP) and 75% (SP). These findings indicate that the pacifier design can significantly impact mechanical loading on the palate and teeth, reducing the risk of developmental oral malocclusions. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the importance of pacifier design in mitigating potential adverse effects on orofacial development. CLINICAL EVIDENCE: There is a growing need for pacifiers designed based on scientific evidence to reduce the risks of orofacial deformation resulting from non-nutritive sucking. The computational approach introduced provides valuable insights that can inform the design of improved pacifiers aimed at minimizing risks associated with non-nutritive sucking habits. It is hoped that this method will guide the future development of more effective pacifiers, reducing potential adverse effects on orofacial structures. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00784-025-06428-9.