A prolonged (more than 6 hours per day) thumbsucking habit may cause the development of which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A prolonged (more than 6 hours per day) thumbsucking habit may cause the development of all of the above conditions. The placement of the thumb between the maxillary and mandibular teeth for an extended time will inhibit the eruption of the incisors and produce a protrusion of the incisor teeth. Because the posterior teeth will remain out of occlusion while the thumb is sucked, overeruption of the posterior teeth can occur as well. Prolonged sucking of the thumb produces tension of the buccal musculature, which can cause lingual displacement of the maxillary posterior teeth. This constriction of the maxillary arch can result in a posterior crossbite.

A Prolonged (More Than 6 Hours Per Day) Thumbsucking Habit