The Management of Digit Sucking Habits course for Dental Practice

This session informs the healthcare worker how to deal with patients with digit sucking habits. This includes both thumb and finger sucking. The session will look at which patients require intervention to help them stop the habit and the various methods that can be employed.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain how to prevent digit sucking habits becoming prolonged habits
• List both non-physical and physical methods that help patients break the habit
• Identify when to use both non-physical and physical methods to help patients break the habit

Digit sucking should be stopped by the time the first molars have emerged. There are several approaches you can take to break the habit ranging from gentle reminders to deterrent appliances.