The association between malocclusions and speech sound disorders (SSDs) remains only partially clarified, particularly in children within the deciduous and mixed dentition phases. Through a structured scoping review, this research investigates current findings to better understand how dental misalignments influence phonetic precision and speech articulation. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework. Relevant publications were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria comprised studies involving pediatric patients in the deciduous or mixed dentition stage exhibiting both malocclusion and SSDs. Of the 1880 articles initially identified, 44 passed the preliminary screening, and 12 met all inclusion parameters for this analysis. Findings demonstrate broad agreement that malocclusions can affect speech patterns, though the specific characteristics and degree of these influences differ among studies. Anterior open bite is frequently linked to articulatory challenges, as it interferes with tongue posture and airflow patterns. The review underscores the importance of interdisciplinary management and emphasizes the need for further studies exploring the causal pathways connecting malocclusions and SSDs.
