الفهرس 
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Abstract
Digit sucking habit is a repetitive behavior that affects the occlusion if persists for a long period. Digit sucking does not only receive attention from health professionals, but often is an area that greatly concerns the parents of a child who practice this habit. Therefore, it is important for the dentist to understand this habit well to be able to help the parents and the child relate to it and to manage the child’s dental situation, (Gairuboyina, 2014).
This study was performed on 185 Egyptian children aged 3 to 6 years. It was performed in the department of pediatric dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Egypt.
An informed consent was obtained from the parents/caregivers after explaining the aim of the study clearly.
Data was collected through a questionnaire which included personal information, dental and medical history, and information about digit sucking habit and malocclusion records.
The children were intra-orally examined for the presence of malocclusion (open-bite, increased over-jet, deep-bite and anterior and posterior cross-bite). Extra-oral examination was done to check for the presence of blisters, calluses or redness on fingers. The examination took place on a dental chair by a single examiner using a periodontal probe, divider, a ruler, and marker and by inspection.
Data was tabulated and statistical analysis using a commercially available software program and Chi square test was used for comparisons.
Results of the current study:
The Results of the descriptive data were as follows:
Regarding the age, the mean age was 5.08 ±0.99 years.
Regarding the gender, females constituted 58.9% of the sample, while 41.1% were males.
The results regarding the oral habit:
Regarding time of practicing the habit, 59.5% reported daytime sucking, whereas 11.9% reported nocturnal sucking and 28.6% reported both daytime and nocturnal sucking.
Regarding duration of sucking, the greatest percentage (19.4%) reported duration of 1 to < 2 years. While the least (1.6%) reported 6 months to 1 year duration.
Regarding the type of finger, thumb was the most common finger used in sucking (67%).
Regarding use of pacifier, only 23.2% reported the use of pacifier.
Regarding type of feeding, 87% reported breast feeding. The rest were bottle fed.
Regarding time of weaning, 40% of the sample reported weaning at 2 years.
Regarding presence of other concurrent habits, nail biting reported the highest percentage (25.4%) compared to the other habits.
Results regarding malocclusion and extra-oral features:
Malocclusion was present in 61.1% of the sample.
Anterior open bite was the commonly seen condition (32.4%), followed by increased over-jet (21.6%); deep-bite (14.6 %), posterior cross-bite unilaterally (7%) then anterior cross-bite and bilateral posterior cross-bite.