Introduction:

breastfeeding has been the first feeding form of the humankind. The repercussion of this act is undeniable in the comprehensive development of the child, and the stomatognathic system does not escape to this influence.

Objective:

to identify the period of maternal breastfeeding and its repercussion on the physiologic diastema of growth.

Materials and methods:

a cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in 156 children aged 2-5 years, assisting the day care center “Dias de Infancia”, health area Playa, in the period February 2007-February 2008. Data obtained in the clinical examination were shown in a form elaborated for that. The studied variables were maternal breastfeeding period, physiological spaces of growth, primate spaces. Data were processed in tables and graphics. Statistical analyses were used.

Results:

56.4 % of the children were breastfed for less than six months. 15.9 % of those who were breastfed for less than six month did not present these spaces. When the breastfeeding period increased for more than six months, the absence of spaces decreased and was evidenced in only 9.0 % of them. 60.6 % showed the presence of all the spaces. 1.3 % of the children were not breastfed, and nevertheless they did show all the physiological diastemata of growth.

Conclusions:

it was found that most of the children were breastfed for a period of six months or less. Physiological diastemata of growth were more represented when breastfeeding lasted more than six months.

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