Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a new magnetic habit reminder in cessation of thumb sucking habit and correction of Anterior open bite.
Material and Methods: This was a prospective clinical trial. The sample consisted of 20 subjects (7 boys and 13 girls) between the age of 5-12 years. Patients were eligible for this study if they had a thumb sucking habit with anterior open bite. Whereas the exclusion criteria included subjects with a history of previous orthodontic treatment, systemic diseases, and/or presence of any clefts. The appliance is a custom made fixed, removable appliance. It consists of two parts (intraoral and extraoral parts) enclosing two poles of gold coated neodymium and iron boron magnets. After insertion of the appliances, the participants were recalled every 4 weeks. At the end of the 6th month of this study, the appliances were removed, and post-treatment records were taken.
Results: PP/MP, FH/MP and LAFH/AFH showed significant reduction after treatment while PFH/AFH posttreatment significantly increased than pretreatment measurement. U1/PP, U1/SN, U1/NA(°) and U1/NA(mm) posttreatment measurements were significantly lower than pretreatment measurements. L1/MP, L1/NB (°), L1/NB(mm), UI/LI had no significant change after treatment. Nasolabial angle showed no significant change and the interlabial gap significantly reduced after treatment. Overjet was significantly reduced and overbite was significantly increased.
Conclusion: The magnetic habit reminder was capable of stopping thumb sucking habit within the 6-month duration of the study with improvement of malocclusion associated with the habit.