MANAGEMENT OF THUMB SUCKING HABIT WITH THE THREADED THUMB GUARD

Dr. Satish Maran, Dr. Anaya Kulkarni Kale, *Dr. Angel V. Thomas, Dr. Saarika Suresh, Dr. Naina Gupta, Dr. Sahiba Khan

ABSTRACT

Aim: This case report aims to describe the management of thumb sucking habit. Case Description: A 14-year-old boy visited the department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, People’s Dental Academy, Bhopal with the chief complaint of open bite and habit of thumb sucking. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed, anterior open bite, maxillary proclination with increased overjet and overbite, high palatal vault, lip incompetence. Extra oral examination revealed dishpan shape appearing thumb and callous formation was also present. Habit breaking appliance, a Palatal crib along with a threaded thumb guard was the treatment plan advised. Results: At three month follow-up, cessation of the habit was observed using intra oral and extra oral habit breaking appliance. Conclusion: The results indicate that the palatal crib along with the threaded thumb guard was effective in managing thumb sucking habit.

Keywords: Thumb sucking habit, palatal crib, threaded thumb guard, habit breaking.