Abstract
During occlusal maturity in children, finger sucking becomes a hindrance regarding the growth and development of the normal upper primary dentition and maxillary bone, and produces malocclusions of the protrusion of the maxillary incisors, anterior open bite, dentitional striction and posterior cross bite.
We therefore created a three-dimensional finite element method model of the maxillary bone from a dry skull in the primary dentition period.
We assumed the degree of the effect of the finger sucking on the palate of the maxillary bone and analized the change in form of the upper primary dentition and maxillary bone.
The following results were obtained:
1. As the part under pressurize with the finger became a part with a deeper palate surface, the overjet became larger and the overbite became shallower for the upper primary incisor.
2. As the part under pressurize with the finger became a part with deeper palate surface, the amount of movement in front and above showed greater increase in the upper primary canine.
3. As the part under pressurize with the finger became a part with deeper palate surface, the amount of movement in lateral showed greater increase in the upper primary first molar.
4. As the part under pressurize with the finger became a part with deeper palate surface, the amount of movement was small.
5. As the part under pressurize with the finger became a part with deeper palate surface, the amount of movement in front and above showed greater increase in the maxillary bone.
We believe that this research can be utilized for the guidance, the diagnosis and the treatment of the finger sucking.
