Thumb Habit Rake
Appliance Purpose / Function:
The Tongue habit appliance is designed serve as a reminder to help end tongue thrust habit. The appliance protrudes too or at least 2mm below the incisal edge of the lower arch to presents a barrier between the anterior teeth and tongue prevent the patient forward thrust of the tongue on the teeth or in that area. It consists of a base bent to an ideal lingual arch wire with 4 to 6 spikes attached to it.
Attention: In order to achieve proper function of this appliance a lower model is required for manufacturing
Appliance Components:
- Bands on the 1st permanent molars.
- .040 base arch extending mesial to the middle third of the cuspids.
- 4 to 6 Rake extensions. Extensions should be bent perpendicular to occlusal plane or to the posterior depending on doctor preference.
- soldered to the bands.
Suggested Materials:
- Wire: Chromium Cobalt wire or Stainless-Steel
- Solder: Silver Solder (Cadmium Free)
Options:
- Laser welding (no solder)
- Appliance may be made more aggressive for more persistent habits
Appliance Fabrication Standards:
- Must come down too or below the lower incisal edge.
- The base arch touches all the posterior teeth
- The wire placed at the top 1/3 of the band and laying against the band for 4 to 5mm
- Rake tips may be sharpened or blunted to doctors preference.
- Confirm no interference between the upper habit appliance and lower arch.
- If you have no lower arch, place loops between the distal to half way of the threes. Keep an eye out for how extreme of an anterior open bit there is. This might affect how you need to make the appliance.
Appliance Notes:
If the habit persists, it may be helpful to determine whether the habit is a simple habit or a mechanism to help the child cope with stressful events happening in his or her life.