A cephalometric evaluation of patients presenting with persistent digit sucking habits

Persistent digit sucking habits are an important aetiological factor for malocclusion, and patients with persistent habits are frequently referred for orthodontic treatment. The present study investigated the effects of digit sucking habits on vertical and anteroposterior dentofacial characteristics by employing a cephalometric analysis of patients with persistent digit sucking habits compared with patients without such habits. Significant differences were seen in maxillary prognathism, relative prognathism, maxillary incisor angulation, interincisal angle, maxillary length and maxillary plane angulation. No significant differences were observed for mandibular prognathism or length, maxillary mandibular plane angle, cranial base measurements nor any measurement of facial height. The digit sucking group were also found to have a larger variation of lower incisor angulation than the controls, although no significant difference in the mean value for this variable was detected. It is concluded that persistent digit sucking may cause largely dentoalveolar change, together with some minor effects on the skeletal pattern.