To Compare The Post Treatment Effects of Fixed Palatal Crib and Bonded Lingual Spur in Reduction of Open Bite and Overjet Following Cessation of Digit Sucking Habit Among 8 To 11 - Year Old Children Attending A Tertiary Health Care Centre in Thiruvan

Abstract Aim: To compare the post treatment effects of Fixed palatal crib and Bonded lingual spur among 8 to 11 year old children with digit sucking habit attending a tertiary health care centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Methodology: A total of 60 subjects (41 girls and 19 boys) of age group 8 to 11 years children were consecutively selected and randomly assigned into two groups: Group - A (n=30) was treated with Bonded lingual spur (BLS) and Group - B (n=30) was treated with Fixed palatal crib (FPC). Data obtained from digit sucking diary (at intervals of every 10 days during the 1st month, every 2 weeks during the next three months and every 1 month during the following months), pre and post study models were assessed for the cessation of digit sucking habit and reduction of overjet & open bite. Statistical Analysis: The statistical analysis was performed by using a statistical software package SPSS version 20.0. Categorical and quantitative variables were expressed as frequency (percentage) and mean ± SD respectively. Independent t test was used to compare quantitative parameters between the categories. Wilcoxon Signed-rank test was carried out to compare ordinal parameters between two intervals of time and Mann-Whitney U test & Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the ordinal parameters between two groups. Chi-square test was used to find the association between the categorical variables. Results: Socio demographic variables were equally distributed among the two groups (p > 0.05). Both FPC and BLS were effective in cessation of digit sucking habit and reduction of overjet and open bite (p < 0.001), but BLS was more effective in reduction of open bite (in 94.4 % of study subjects, p < 0.001) as compared to FPC (in 69.7 % of study subjects). However FPC was more effective in reduction of overjet (in 66.7 % of study subjects, p < 0.001) as compared to BLS (in 17.9 % of study subjects). The time taken for cessation of digit sucking habit was less with BLS than FPC (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Both FPC and BLS were effective in open bite and overjet reduction associated with digit sucking in children during mixed dentition period, with BLS being more advantageous than FPC in terms of the variables studied.