[Effects of sucking habits on the dentofacial development]

This review gives a description of the significance of the dentofacial development of both thumb- and fingersucking habits and dummy-sucking. Of all children about 60% has had a nonnutrive sucking habit during their youth. Sucking habits can have an influence on both the dental arches separately as well as on the intermaxillary relationship. Prolonged finger- and thumbsucking results in a disturbance of the dentofacial development in the anteroposterior, vertical and transverse directions. Dummy sucking has consequences for the development especially in vertical and transverse directions. With regard to dental complications it is advised to stop finger- and thumbsucking prior to the eruption of the permanent incisors and to stop dummy sucking before three years of age.