Al- Anbar Medical Journal

Abstract

Objectives: to asses the prevalence of thumb sucking habit among preschool children and the effect of the habit on their occlusion.
Materials and Methods: 712 of 4-5 years old preschool children where examined for the presence or absence of thumb sucking habit by questioning, and inspection to the thumbs, and the teeth were examined for the presence of increased over jet and over bite or open bite.
Results: 128 children from the total number have thumb sucking habit, 102 of them have increased over jet, 80 of them have increased over bite, and 29 of them have open bite.
Conclusion: The percent of children having thumb sucking habit was considered to be high at this age range (4-5) years, and the habit was found to be increasing the prevalence of malocclusion of decidous teeth.