Anti Thumb Sucking Appliance
Anti Thumb Sucking Devices or habit breakers have become a very popular device. The are designed to create an uncomfortable environment and disrupt the wearer from placing the thumb into the palate. Thumb sucking is terribly disruptive to the development of dental arches and the position of teeth during childhood growth. The thumb will displace the Dental arches pushing teeth away from the natural position creating problems such as Anterior open bites and anteriror spacing of the front teeth. Children who develop anterior open bites due to thumb sucking will require extensive orthodontic treatment to correct to malocclusion, prevention is always better than the cure. These appliances are very effective and very cost effective way to prevent developmental issues wih a child who is sucking their thumb.
Rationale
- Habit breaker for the Thumb sucker
- Help to maintain tooth postions
- minor tooth movements can be achieved whilst wearing the device with use of springs and archwires
Construction requirements
- Upper and lower impression in alginate
- ICP bite registration
- Study Models should be taken for records of developmental changes
Further Information
The anti thumb sucking devices can be removable and fixed appliances, often the first attempt is to use a removable appliance to try and break the habit, followed by a fixed applaince if the habit continues. The anti thumb sucking devices are also known as; Blue Grass Appliances, Habit Breakers, Thumb Sucking devices.
