Although many young children suck their thumbs, the majority stop at an early enough age to avoid permanent dental problems. However, a handful of young children continue to suck their thumbs past the age of five or six. These children need to be identified and treated before their thumbsucking can lead to severe malocclusions.
Chronic thumbsucking can cause large open bites and posterior crossbites (the constriction of the upper back teeth.) The effect of thumbsucking depends upon the child’s age and the duration, consistency and force of the thumbsucking. Fortunately, if we can identify the thumbsucking child before the maxilla (upper arch) is completely formed, usually around ages eight to nine, many of the occlusal problems created from thumbsucking can self-correct. If these children go undetected, the dental malocclusion caused by thumbsucking can require complex orthodontic treatment.
The American Association of Orthodontics recommentds that all children be seen by an orthodontist by the age of seven, while thumbsuckers may be referred as early as age six. Their is a very successful habit training technique that is approximately 90% effective, without the use of any orthodontic appliance. With the few patients that we cannot motivate to stop thumbsucking, a fixed appliance such as a thumb crib may be indicated.