Oral Habits and its effects on dento-skeletal structures

Oral habits are the most frequent cause of malformations mostly seen in early childhood and mixed dentition stages. Habits usually fades away with time, if not then it is a matter of great concern as it can cause serious dental alveolar changes. It is usually associated with several etiologies out of which psychology is common and important. If a patient complains of a habit, understanding the associated deep-rooted psychology and management is very important for the dentist. A wide variety of habits with varying etiologies and clinical manifestations exist that may require different approach especially regarding mechanotherapy, but one common approach to all habits is the psychological counselling and developing good rapport with the child because it is ultimately child who has to give up habit. Therefore, for proper management of these habits, proper understanding of each and every habit becomes important especially from the dentist¿s point of view.