Habits

Question 1

What are the dental features of a thumb sucking habit?

Answer 1

• Increased overjet
• Proclined upper incisors
• Retroclined lower incisors
• Incomplete overbite or Anterior open bite (unilateral)
• posterior crossbite
• Narrowing of the upper arch

Question 2

What duration per day is the habit required to bring about change in tooth
position?

Answer 2

6 hours

Question 3

How would you deter this habit? Please include both advice you might give and also an active orthodontic intervention.

Answer 3

• Positive reinforcement
• Nail varnish
• Glove
• Bluegrass or hayrake

Question 4

“An open bite associated with a thumb habit often resolves” if the habit is stopped before…….

Answer 4

6 years of age and the permanent dentition comes through.

Question 5

Would you start fixed appliance treatment in a patient with an active thumb habit?

Answer 5

Fixed treatment should not start until the habit had been broken for 3-6 months, unless the use of a bluegrass or hayrake is being used in conjunction. The force of the thumb and the sucking will be hindering the forces used to correct the malocclusion.