Thumb Sucking Habit Treated with Palatal Crib and Myofunctional Therapy: A Case Report

Abstract

Thumb-sucking is the most common oral habit and a frequently observed behavioral pattern in preschool-aged children. It plays a key role in the development of malocclusion and should be managed with care, as it can lead to a secondary tongue thrust that aggravates the condition. Creating an effective treatment plan involves identifying the root cause, which may be psychological, physiological, or anatomical in nature. Proper planning for behavior prevention is essential to achieve successful treatment outcomes. One effective appliance used to address tongue-thrusting and thumb-sucking habits is the palatal crib. This case highlights the potential benefits of using a palatal crib alongside myofunctional therapy in a child who habitually held the tongue low and engaged in thumb-sucking, both contributing to an anterior open bite (AOB). An 11-year-old male patient exhibited a flaring and spacing of both upper and lower incisors with anterior open bite. Myofunctional therapy, in conjunction with a palatal crib, was employed to facilitate proper tongue positioning and eliminate the thumb-sucking habit.