Many children have oral habits such as finger sucking or pacifier use. While such habits help a child self soothe, at a certain point the habit becomes very ingrained and can be difficult to stop. Since a child’s bones are relatively soft compared to an adult, finger and pacifier sucking can cause changes in the anatomy of the palate, jaw, and teeth of a child. Changes such as a narrowed and high palate, cross- bite, and open bite can create speech issues and orthodontic problems. We evaluate and offer counseling for ways to stop the habits, as well as appliances that can stop the habit completely.
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