❖ THUMB SUCKING CAN BE DEFINED AS PLACEMENT OF THUMB INTO THE MOUTH FOR VARIOUS DEPTH. THUMB SUCKING AND FINGER SUCKING ARE GENERALLY TERMED AS DIGIT SUCKING.
❖ MOST PARENTS GET WORRIED WHEN THEY SEE THEIR BABY SUCKING THE THUMB OR USING A PACIFIER.
❖ IN FACT SOME EXPARTS REPORTS THAT NEARLY 100% OF NORMAL BABIES WILL ENGAGE IN NON NUTRITIVE SUCKING. IT IS COMMON IN INFANCY AS MANY AS 25% OF CHILDREN AGE 2 YEARS AND 15% CHILDREN AGE 5 YEARS.
❖ BEYOND 5 YEAR MAYBE ASSOCIATED WITH SEQUELAE.
❖ IT IS CONCERNED AS DENTAL PROBLEM DIGIT MALFORMATION SPEECH AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEM
❖ IT MAY BE PSYCHOLOGICAL OR MAYBE HABITUAL . IT POSTULATED THAT IT REFLECTS THE FEELING OF INSECURITY.
❖ DIAGNOSIS IS MAINLY BASED ON HISTORY. CLINICAL EXAMINATION WILL REVEAL SIGN OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE THUMB.
❖ TREATMENT OF ONE SECOND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IF IT PERSISTS BEYOND 4 YEARS. AND CAUSES DENTAL PROBLEM OR DIGITAL MALFORMATION OR DISTRESS TO THE CHILD.
