© 1988 by European Orthodontic Society
Treatment of children with a prolonged dummy or finger-sucking habit
Falköping, Sweden
1Dr E Larsson Tandregleringen Köttergot 5 52100 Falköping Sweden
Many children have great problems in breaking their finger-sucking habits. Mechanical hindrance of the habit with a palatal crib as well as different forms of encouragement, as shown in this study, often help the child to break the habit. No mental disturbances were registered in children who stopped finger-sucking after two and a half months' weaning treatment. After the finger-sucking habit has stopped it is important t keep the mandibular incisors under close observation and perhaps take steps to prevent over-eruption.
Dummy-sucking normally stops at an acceptable age without any treatment. However, dummies are now being used more intensively and to an older age than previously and sometimes in a harmful way. Dental development in transverse direction should be carefully observed in both dummy- and finger-suckers.