European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Oral habits such as finger and thumb sucking, lip sucking, mouth breathing when used excessively or continuously can lead to poor dental health or malocclusion.The use of habit breaking appliances will restrict oral habits and prevent malocclusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, gender and age distribution of usage of habit breaking appliances in the management of parafunctional oral habits. 44,100 patient records were reviewed from June 2019 to March 2020. Patients who had undergone treatment with habit breaking appliances were selected and their treatment details were obtained from the patient records to obtain the prevalence. Details on habits and habit breaking appliances were also noted and tabulated in excel and imported to SPSS. Descriptive statistics and chi square test were done. There was a statistical significance between age and habits breaking appliances (p<0.05). No statistical significance was noted between gender and appliance usage. Treatment with habit breaking appliances was more prevalent in males. Thumb sucking was the most prevalent habit among the studied population and tongue crib was the preferred choice of appliance.