title: Influence of non-orthodontic intervention on digit sucking and consequent anterior open bite: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess behavioural and occlusal outcomes of non-orthodontic intervention (NOI) in a sample of children, 4-12 years of age, in Australia, in order to establish clinical relevance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 91 patient records of 4- to 12-year-old children reporting a habit of digit sucking, from two clinics in north-eastern Australia, were de-identified and used. Each patient had been examined at two visits, separated by an interval of 4 months, using standard clinical procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 77 children who received a 4-month NOI, 69 (89.6%) had ceased their digit sucking habit by the end of the NOI period [χ2=67.0, degrees of freedom (d.f.)=1, P<0.001]. Of the 72 subjects who had front teeth, the number with anterior open bite decreased from 37 (51.4%) to 12 (16.7%) upon completion of NOI (χ2=21.3, d.f.=1, P<0.001). Among the 32 patients with a measurable overjet, the mean overjet was found to decrease from 4.2±2.4 mm to 3.1±1.9 mm after implementation of NOI (t=5.8, d.f.=31, P<0.001). Children who received NOI were more likely to quit the digit sucking habit in the 4-month period (P<0.001, OR=51.8, 95% CI: 9.8-273.9) and were more likely to appear without anterior open bite at a 4-month recall (P<0.001, OR=30.0, 95% CI: 5.9-151.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated clinical relevance of NOI on the cessation of a digit sucking habit, closure of anterior open bite and reduction of overjet. Further investigations are indicated.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Boyen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1246-7447
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Thumbsucking Clinic, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lejarraga
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Melbourne Dental School, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Yunlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bessho
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Pongthorn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pumtang-on
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005780:Gelatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D024343:Open Bite / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057887:Overbite / Q000517:prevention & control; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014061:Tongue Habits / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: C015233:gelatin film; D005780:Gelatin
keywords: Digit sucking; anterior open bite; incisive papilla; non-orthodontic intervention; orofacial myology; stomahesive wafer