[Management of neuromuscular training and psychotherapy]

In 9 out of 10 cases it is a very simple matter to persuade children age 7 to 9 years to stop sucking their thumbs by means of very elementary and brief supportive psychotherapy. In the majority of cases it is possible, three months after interruption of the habit and after studying the morphologic improvement, to decide whether treatment should be completed by education of deglutition and of phonetic articulation, possible after previous mechanical treatment if this is justified by the residual vestibulolingual bite disorder.