Vol 9, Jul-Dec, Poster 17

Poster journal
Innovative Thumb-sucking habit-breaking appliances
Ashwini P Bhangale1, Nitin D Gulve2
1-2Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandir's Karmaveer
Bhausaheb Hiray Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.

Commentary:
Thumb sucking habit is one of the most common oral habits which is associated with malocclusion1. Thumb
sucking is seen to manifest since the 29th week of the intra-uterine life2. The habit is apparent at the age of 2
to 3 and deliberated to be normal till the age of 43. When this thumb sucking habit endures further than the
age of 4, it is seen to persist in the mixed & permanent dentition phase and has damaging effects on the
dentition and the jaw4. The effects of prolonged thumb sucking habit include, increased overjet due to
proclination of the maxillary anterior teeth and reclination of the mandibular anterior teeth, anterior open
bite, constriction of the maxillary arch, deep palatal vault and posterior crossbite5,6. Although a variety of
appliances have been utilized to break the thumb sucking habit, a number of these appliances can have a
detrimental effect on its own. The conventional cribs, spurs, and spikes can irritate the tongue, subsequently
causing ulceration of the tongue and induce supplementary mastication and speech complications1. The
present poster summarizes the fabrication of two innovative appliances, which work on the reminder
principle, and can be employed to cease the thumb sucking habit with any significant adverse effects.

References

1. Leung AK, Robson WL. Thumb sucking. Am Fam Physician. 1991;44(5):1724-8.

2. Davidson L. Thumb and finger sucking. Pediatr Rev. 2008;29(6):207-8.

3. Graber TM. Thumb and finger sucking. Am J Orthod. 1959;45(4):258-4.

4. Singh S P, Utreja A, Chawla H S. Distribution of malocclusion types among thumb suckers seeking
orthodontic treatment. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2008;26, Suppl S3:114-7.

5. Yemitan TA, daCosta OO, Sanu OO, Isiekwe MC. Effects of digit sucking on dental arch dimensions in
the primary dentition. Afr J Med Med Sci. 2010;39(1):55–61.

6. Gale EN, Ager WA. Thumb sucking revisited. Am J Orthod. 1979;55(2):167-70.

Keywords: Habit-Breaking; Thumb Sucking

How to cite this article:Bhangale A P, Gulve N D.- Innovative Thumb-sucking habit-breaking appliances-
PosterJ 2020; 9(2):17.
Source of support: Nil.
DOI: 10.15713/ins.dpj.069
Conflict of interest: None declared

Corresponding Author:
Ashwini P Bhangale ,
Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics,
Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandir's Karmaveer Bhausaheb Hiray
Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
Email id: apb204@gmail.com

Vol 9,Jul-Dec, Poster 17