Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40640845›Full record

ArticleHead & face medicine2025

Influence of pacifier design on pacifier-palate contact: a finite element analysis.

Michaela Maintz, Prasad Nalabothu, Florian M Thieringer, Carlalberta Verna

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Head & face medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Michaela Maintz *Medical Additive Manufacturing Research Group (Swiss MAM), Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwil, 4123, Switzerland.
Prasad Nalabothu *Clinic of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, 4031, Switzerland. prasad.nalabothu@unibas.ch.
Florian M ThieringerMedical Additive Manufacturing Research Group (Swiss MAM), Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwil, 4123, Switzerland.
Carlalberta VernaDepartment of Pediatrics Oral Health and Orthodontics, University Center for Dental Medicine UZB, Mattenstrasse 40, Basel, Basel, 4058, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe study compares the contact pressure and pressure distribution of various pacifier shapes on the palatal surfaces of newborns and six-month-old infants using nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA). Additionally, it seeks to assess the extent and pattern of interaction between pacifier designs and the lateral and medial zones of the palates. MATERIALS AND

methods3D finite element models of four pacifiers (A = NUK

resultsPacifier D exhibited the highest lateral and medial pressures on both the newborn and six-month-old palates with its broad-winged design. Pacifiers A and B showed moderate but steady increases in lateral pressure. In contrast, pacifier C showed concentrated pressure in the anterior zone with its distinct, rounded shape, particularly on the newborn palate. Pressure distribution patterns differed significantly between pacifier designs, with pacifier D showing the most extensive and uniform pressure distribution across the palate.

conclusionsPacifier design significantly influences palatal interaction, with broader shapes resulting in higher pressure concentrations on the lateral sides that may affect the transversal palate dimension. Understanding the biomechanical impacts of pacifier use is the first step in giving valuable insights to both clinicians and parents in making informed decisions regarding pacifier selection to support optimal oral development. Further clinical studies are needed to validate these findings.

Indexed as

Equipment DesignPacifiersPalateFinite Element AnalysisHumansInfantInfant, NewbornPressureTongueFinite element analysisInfantNon-Nutritive suckingOral developmentPacifier morphologyPalatal pressure

Identifiers

PMID40640845
PMCPMC12247239

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.