Managing the Lower Lip-Sucking Habit With a Lip Bumper Appliance: A Pediatric Case Study

Oral habits in children are of prime concern to a pediatric dentist as the child is in an active growth phase, and it may alter the development of the orofacial area. One of the major etiological factors in the development of malocclusion and other adverse effects on orofacial structures is oral habits during and after preschool age. The habit of sucking one's lower lip is rarely examined; it appears that practitioners tend to associate it with less adverse clinical consequences. It is important to identify harmful oral habits and eliminate them as early as possible. This case report focuses on the diagnosis of the lip-sucking habit, understanding its etiology, and creating a treatment plan that will prevent unfavorable consequences. A lip bumper is an easy-to-fabricate, easy-to-place, and easily tolerated intra-oral appliance. The successful use of lip bumper in this case adds to the evidence that when used as an early intervention the habit can be intercepted appropriately.