{"id":2671,"date":"2024-08-06T18:01:50","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T18:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev2.therevity.com\/orthotime\/?page_id=2671"},"modified":"2024-08-06T18:01:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T18:01:50","slug":"patient-education","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dev2.therevity.com\/orthotime\/patient-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Patient Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Patient Education<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Care Questions\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What constitutes an emergency? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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You should always call our office to make an appointment if\u2026

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  • A bracket is no longer attached to the tooth and wiggling on the wire.<\/li>
  • A wire poke that is causing pain (otherwise you may use wax until your next visit)<\/li>
  • An appliance or Herbst has come off or unattached<\/li><\/ul>

    In these instances we will get you in as quickly as we can to fix the issue.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    How do I know if a bracket is broken? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    A bracket is \u201cbroken\u201d when it wiggles up and down on the tooth or slides back and forth on the wire.<\/p>

    You may hear or feel a pop if you happen to bite on something hard, or you may notice that it is off of the tooth as you are brushing. If this happens please call our office to make an appointment right away so that<\/p>

    Your teeth don\u2019t move too far out of alignment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What do I do if a wire is poking me? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    A wire may sometimes poke your cheeks in the back of your mouth if the wire was not cut to the proper length\u00a0OR if you have a \u201cpower chain\u201d that pulls together any gaps between your teeth and will therefore cause the\u00a0wire to become longer and \u201cpoke\u201d your cheeks.

    Use the wax that was given in your kit to place over the poke until you can come into your next appointment.<\/p>

    If it is causing a lot of pain please phone our office to make an emergency appointment.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What are the best actions to take when I am sore after an appointment? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    It is normal to be fairly sore after an appointment. It usually means your treatment is working. The soreness should subside within a few hours and usually by the next morning. If you just got your braces put on, it may\u00a0 take a few days to get used to them.<\/p>

    The best trick is to eat cold things! Most of the wires that we use are activated by the warmth of your mouth, so if you eat something cold it will take some pressure off of your teeth. You will also want to make your diet soft until you are feeling better.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    How long does it take to put braces on and will it hurt? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The initial appointment takes about 2 hours to bond the braces to your teeth. The appointment should not hurt. No shots or numbing is used or required. We have Netflix and you\u2019ll get to hang out and watch a movie while we work.<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    What does it mean to \u201ctighten\u201d my braces? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \u201cTightening\u201d your braces is a word that is commonly used but doesn\u2019t exactly mean how it sounds.<\/p>

    When we \u201ctighten\u201d your braces we place a new wire that is thicker than the wire we used at your\u00a0previous appointment. That thicker wire places a little extra pressure against the brackets which therefore nudges the teeth closer the position that we want them in.<\/p>

    That is why, after an appointment, your braces feel tighter.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    Can my waterpik replace flossing? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    A waterpik is a small water jet that projects water between your teeth. It is a great tool to flush food and plaque\u00a0out of your teeth. Typically we do not recommend it to replace flossing. Unless a child struggles to brush then a\u00a0Waterpik may be better than nothing.\u00a0 The reason being that floss may be the only thing that can reach up underneath your gums where bacteria like to hide.

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    How do I use my whitening kit? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The whitening syringes should be kept in the refrigerator for longer keep. When you place the whitening solution into your retainer you\u2019ll place a small dot on the inside of the retainer toward the front of the tooth. That small dot will surround the whole surface of your tooth. If you can taste it or it is oozing out of the top then you have used too much. Leave the trays in your mouth for about 30 minutes and then rinse them off and rinse out your mouth with water.

    Repeat these steps every day (or every other day depending on your sensitivity) for about two weeks and evaluate the color of your teeth. You may choose to whiten a few more times or only every month or so.\u00a0 If your teeth are very sensitive you may use an over the counter sensitivity toothpaste and reduce your whitening time.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What do I do if my Herbst appliance breaks or comes off? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The cement that we use for our Herbst appliances is very durable but in some cases biting on something hard may cause the bands to come off of the teeth or the rods (aka arms) to come off.\u00a0 If this happens please call us immediately so that we can repair it and prevent any further pain.

    If you happen to be out of town should this occur, you should use your \u201cemergency\u201d tool that we provide you to remove the \u201carms\u201d of the appliance until you can come into our office.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What if my child\u2019s appliance breaks off or is hurting? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    An appliance that is cemented into a child\u2019s mouth is typically to hold spaces or to create spaces. When these appliances \u201cbreak\u201d it usually means that the bands that are cemented around their back molars has come loose. Occasionally the actual wire attached to the bands may break. These breaks are usually caused by biting on something hard or very sticky. If this happens, please call our office to make an \u201cemergency\u201d appointment so that we may repair it.\u00a0You may use wax if possible to cover any spots that may be sharp and causing pain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What is a \u201cpower chain\u201d? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    A Power chain is a series of elastic loops linked together. They fit around each of the brackets and pull them closer together to close or maintain spaces between teeth. These can be used in fun colors.<\/p>

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    What do \u201cfinal wires\u201d mean? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    We refer to final wires as the last set of wires that we put you in. Instead of changing your wires at your appointments we will take that \u201cfinal\u201d wire out and add small bends to move individual teeth. Typically we repeat this process for about 4 to 5 appointments before we take the braces off.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    Is it okay to double up on my elastics? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    You may think that doubling up on your elastics, or wearing two bands at a time on each side, could speed up your treatment. But in fact, it may just make your mouth more sore than it needs to be.<\/span><\/p>

    The best way to make your time in braces go faster is to wear your elastics exactly the way the doctor prescribes. Sometimes Dr. Watson may give you some stronger elastics if you feel that you are doing everything you are supposed to and wouldn\u2019t mind a little extra pressure.<\/p>

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    Can I eat with my elastics in? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    You may eat with elastics in your mouth but typically it can be hard to do so or just annoying. We don\u2019t mind if you take them out to eat as long as you put new ones back in once your done.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What are bite turbos? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    We refer to bite turbos as small mounds of glue that we place on the edge of just two of your teeth to prop your bite open. If you have a deep bite or overlapping teeth, this prevents you from biting on the brackets.<\/p>

    As you wear your elastics your bite will begin to move and your back teeth, top and bottom, will align themselves together. We keep the glue mounds on for at least a few appointments.\u00a0Bite turbos are not comfortable to eat with, but don\u2019t get discouraged, it does take a few days to get used to them.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What if my child needs after school appointments? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    We try to be fair to everyone in scheduling appointments. We know school is important, so we will typically schedule an \u201cafter school\u201d appointment and then a \u201cduring school\u201d appointment for your next visit, and alternating so on.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    Where can I buy more supplies? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Any of your supermarkets should carry a lot of your brushing supplies. Certain things such as orthodontic wax, brushes, or flossers you may retrieve from us. We are happy to give you as much as you want and need.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What if my retainer breaks or I loose it? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    If your retainer breaks or turns up missing due to negligence, the charge for a new retainer is $200. A\u00a0new set of upper and lower retainers would cost $400.\u00a0If the retainers are worn down due to regular wear and tear we will usually replace them for you free of charge at your next retainer check.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What do I do if my permanent retainer breaks or is poking me? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    A permanent retainer is a small wire glued behind your front teeth. If it happens to break, come loose, or stick into your gums, please call us so that we may repair the glue. Please know that permanent retainers are meant to stand up to most foods, but there are occasions where the glue wears down or something hard will hit it just right and in that case it\u2019s an easy fix.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    How do I floss with my permanent retainer? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Flossing with a permanent retainer is pretty simple. Please refer to our video to the right titled \u00a0\u201cFlossing with a permanent retainer.\u201d<\/p>

    All you do is use the floss threader to guide your floss underneath the permanent retainer, between your teeth, and out through the other side. When you are finished, pull the end of the floss until it is completely out. Make sure that you don\u2019t pull the floss against the wire, this may pull it off.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    What do I do if I have white spots on my teeth? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The white spots you see on teeth are decalcified areas where plaque was allowed to stay for long periods of time. Essentially these are the beginnings of cavities. The best way to prevent these white spots is to brush daily around every side of the bracket removing food from any places that it can hide.\u00a0To treat these white spots, Dr. Watson may prescribe a toothpaste that will lighten the spots, re-mineralizing the areas.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Is it bad for my child to suck their thumb? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Thumb-sucking is normal in babies and young children.\u00a0They may also suck on their fingers, hands, or items such as\u00a0pacifiers<\/a>.Little by little, most children stop on their own at age 3 to 6 years.<\/p>

    Children who suck their thumbs often or with great intensity around age 4 or 5, or those who are still sucking their thumbs at age 6, are at risk for dental or speech problems. Prolonged thumb-sucking may cause the\u00a0teeth<\/a>\u00a0to become improperly aligned (malocclusion) or push the\u00a0teeth<\/a>\u00a0outward. This usually corrects itself when the child stops thumb-sucking. But the longer thumb-sucking continues, the more likely it is that\u00a0orthodontic treatment<\/a>\u00a0will be needed.<\/p>

    Simple home treatment measures can help children from sucking their thumbs. Including\u00a0putting gloves on your child\u2019s hands, wrapping the thumb with an adhesive bandage or cloth, positive incentives, etc. These may help remind your child not to suck the thumb.<\/p>

    If home treatment does not work and you are concerned or feel frustrated about your child\u2019s thumb-sucking, talk to your child\u2019s dentist or orthodontist.There may be other treatment options, such as behavioral therapy, thumb devices, or devices for the\u00a0mouth<\/a>. Below is an example.<\/p>