THE ROLE OF ELIMINATING THUMB SUCKING HABITS IN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE IN INTERCEPTIVE ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS
Abstract
Thumb sucking is a common non-nutritive oral habit in early childhood. While considered physiologic in infancy, persistence beyond the preschool years may contribute to the development of malocclusion, including anterior open bite, increased overjet, and altered craniofacial growth. Interceptive orthodontic treatment aims to eliminate etiological factors at an early stage to prevent or reduce the severity of malocclusion and its functional and psychosocial consequences. This review manuscript discusses the role of eliminating thumb sucking habits in interceptive orthodontic patients and its impact on oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL). Evidence from studies published between 2000 and the present demonstrates that early habit cessation, through behavioral approaches and habit-breaking appliances, contributes significantly to improved occlusal development, oral function, aesthetics, and psychosocial well-being.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Krishnappa S, Rani MS, Aariz S. New electronic habit reminder for the management of thumb-sucking habit. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2016;34:294-7.
Budi, Gunawan, D.R., Wijaya, W., Yufridika. (2024). Kedokteran Gigi Pencegahan dalam Bidang Periodonsia, Konservasi Gigi, Prostodonsia dan Ortodonsia. Jurnal Kesehatan Amanah, 8(2), 26–36. https://doi.org/10.57214/jka.v8i2.655
Muradova N, Arman Özçırpıcı A. (2019) Modified Haas Expander for the Treatment of Anterior Openbite and Posterior Crossbite Associat ed with Thumb Sucking. A Case Report: 3-Years Follow-Up. Turk J Orthod, 32(4): 247-52. https://doi.org/10.5152/TurkJOrthod.2019.19070
Tanaka O, Oliveira W, Galarza M, Aoki V, Bertaiolli B. (2016). Breaking the Thumb Sucking Habit: When Compliance Is Essential. Case Rep Dent, 6010615:1-6 . https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6010615
Sofyanti, E., & Fong, C. K. (2012). KEBIASAAN MENGISAP JARI PADA PASIEN TUMBUH KEMBANG: DIGIT SUCKING HABIT IN GROWING PATIENTS. Dentika: Dental Journal, 17(2), 189-194.
Felemban OM, Alharbi NT, Alamoudi RA, Alturki GA, Helal NM. (2022) Factors influencing the desire for orthodontic treatment among patients and parents in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. J Orthodont Sci.;11:25.
Sofyanti E. (2023). Maloklusi dan Ortodonti. Diagnosis Maloklusi: Tantangan di Masa Tumbuh Kembang.(1-5) Penerbit Depublish:Yogyakarta.
Gupta, Deeksha.(2022) Oral Health (0974-3960). Nov2022, Vol. 16 Issue 11, p8-9. 2p.
Dzaja, K., & Tadin, A. (2025). Assessing Knowledge Gaps and Referral Practices in Pediatric Malocclusion Etiology: A Cross-Sectional E-Survey of Pediatricians and Family Physicians in Croatia. Oral, 5(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/oral5010001
Dias da Cunha L, Rodrigues V, Vieira de Oliveira IC, Pozzobon Pereira AL. (2025) Impact of malocclusion and oral habits on oral health-related quality of life and sleep disturbance in young adults : A cross-sectional study. J Orofac Orthop.Aug;86(Suppl 1):82-91.https:// doi.org/10.1007/s00056-024-00555-w.
Alsaggaf, D.H., Alqarni, M.Z., Barayan, S.A., Assaggaf, A.A., Alansari, R.A. (2022) Parents’ Awareness of Malocclusion and Orthodontic Consultation for Their Children: A Cross-Sectional Study. Children 2022, 9, 1974. https://doi.org/10.3390/ children9121974
Aldweesh AH, Ben Gassem AA, AlShehri BM, AlTowaijri AA, Albarakati SF. (2022). Parents' Awareness of Early Orthodontic Consultation: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Feb 5;19(3):1800. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031800.
Tabbaa, M.Y.; Albarkheel, A.R.; Al Mubarak, S. (2020). Parents’ Knowledge and Awareness of Orthodontics and Orthodontic Treatment in Saudi Arabia. Int. J. Sci. Res. 9, 599–604.
Heravi F, Farzanegan F, Tabatabaee M, Sadeghi M. (2011). Do malocclusions affect the oral health-related quality of life? Oral Health Prev Dent.9(3):229-33. PMID: 22068178
Nichols Gal et al. (2022). Does Malocclusion affect Oral Health-related Quality of Life? A Review Of The Literature. NZ Dental Journal. Vol 118 March: 27-39. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:277024482
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33085/mdj.v1i3.6881
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Sponsored/Supported by:
E-ISSN : 3123-1993
Contact Person:
Jl. Kapten Sumarsono 107, Helvetia, Medan, Sumatera Utara - 20124, Indonesia.
Hp: +6281370755055. Tel/Faks: (061) 42084606




