Hybrid Appliance for the Correction of Parafunctional Habits

Reji Abraham; Geetha Kamath; Jasmeet Singh Sodhi; Sonia Sodhi; Chandki Rita; S. Sai Kalyan

Reji Abraham Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Sri Hasanamba Dental College and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India.
Geetha Kamath Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Hasanamba Dental College and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India.
Jasmeet Singh Sodhi Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, CSMSS Dental College and Hospital, Aurangabad, India.
Sonia Sodhi Department of Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology, CSMSS Dental College and Hospital, Aurangabad, India.
Chandki Rita Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
S. Sai Kalyan Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Rural Dental College, Loni, Maharashtra, India.

Keywords: Habits, tongue thrusting habit, thumb sucking habit, habit breaking appliance, hybrid appliance, management of parafunctional habits, bead appliance, fixed habit correctors

Abstract

Tongue thrusting and thumb sucking are the most commonly seen oral habits which act as the major etiological factors in the development of dental malocclusion. This case report describes a fixed habit correcting appliance, Hybrid Habit Correcting Appliance (HHCA), designed to eliminate these habits. This hybrid appliance is effective in less compliant patients and if desired can be used along with the fixed orthodontic appliance. Its components can act as mechanical restrainers and muscle retraining devices. It is also effective in cases with mild posterior crossbites.