Prevent Thumb Sucking and an Overbite in Children With This Orthodontic Device Parents, if your child likes sucking his thumb constantly, you may want to get that checked. Not only could that be a sign of a poor coping habit, but it can lead to poorly aligned teeth in the future! To prevent children from sucking their thumbs and reduce the need for braces growing up, Schacher Orthodontics is introducing the patented and one-of-a-kind Quad Crib.  The Quad Crib was invented by Dr. Schacher himself as a preventive tool for pediatric orthodontics.  The device is placed at the back of the two front teeth and prevents a child from engaging in thumb sucking.  Worn like braces, the Quad Crib gently allows the teeth to align themselves without the traditional tightening of wires.  Thumb sucking is a maladaptive coping mechanism that stems from early infancy.  Children learn to suck their thumb to pacify themselves, and while not harmful, it may develop into poor coping habits as a toddler and even as an adult.  One result of constant thumb sucking is an overbite.  The teeth and jaw of a child are still malleable and growing. If the teeth are “trained” to stick out, due to the constant pushing of the thumb, it may develop into a misaligned jaw.  This is one of the main reasons why children require braces growing up. To prevent this, Dr. Schacher developed the Quad Crib, which forms a protective barrier at the back of the two front teeth.  Children are prevented from pushing their teeth further outward, reducing the need for braces in the future.  Go to http://myorthodontist.ca to learn more.