Additional information

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What is it?

The FDA listed and patented ThumbGuard™ appliance is designed with three things in mind:

1. Make it impossible for a child to suck its thumb or finger when the appliance is on;
2. Make it very difficult for a child to remove it;
3. Make it as unrestrictive and fun to wear as possible.

To suck his thumb, the child has to seal the thumb with lips to create suction. To prevent this from happening, the tubular part of the device which goes over the child’s thumb must be always larger in diameter than the thumb. When lips seal the tubular part on the outside, the gap (or space) between thumb and tube on the inside keeps the air flowing, thus breaking the seal.

It’s very important to place and secure the appliance properly, so child would not be able to remove it So we recommend that at the beginning of the treatment (for a period of 5-7 days) you fit the ThumbGuard™ appliance (that is the clear plastic appliance itself, not the wristband) on the child’s hand a bit tighter. If there are any questions regarding how to fit it on a child hand, please calls us.

Another important condition for the success is consistent and uninterrupted use of the appliance for the period of treatment. The appliance must be worn during all the times when your child might be tempted to suck his thumb. The best results are achieved when the appliance is worn around the clock for four weeks with daily removal for cleaning.

In 1995, evaluation by an independent dental research organization found that treatment with ThumbGuard™ is successful in 90% of all cases.1 Based on this and other reports, we continue to improve efficacy of the product while making it more comfortable and as a result, even more successful.

The ThumbGuard™ appliance comes in three sizes: Small size for younger children from 3 to 4 years old, Medium size for 5 to 6 years old and Large for 7 and up.

It’s made out of soft, clear or white and non-toxic medical grade plastic material, which minimally restricts child’s activity when in use. It is secured on a child’s hand by multicolored wristbands, which are fun for children to wear and allow them to choose a color to wear. These wristbands or bracelets are lockable on a child’s wrist, so child would not be able to remove ThumbGuard™. The treatment kit comes to the child with 2 ThumbGuard™ appliances, 60 colorful and lockable bracelets, a VHS video and written instructions.

We are confident that ThumbGuard™ will also work for you!

SOURCES:
1. Clinical Research Associates Newsletter, v. 19, issue 6, June 1995.

Treatment Options

There are numerous approaches to treat chronic (habitual) thumb sucking. They can be bundled into three categories:Behavioral – (or behavior modification) – this approach suggests rewarding a child for not exercising the habit;Aversive – this approach generates negative sensations when the habit is exercised, such as bad taste, pain or major discomfort;Mechanical – this approach prevents or interrupts the process of thumb suckingUsually, first attempts made by parents to stop thumb sucking belong to the first category – behavioral. There is professional help available from speech pathologists and child psychologists to explore this approach. It is our understanding that this approach fails because children often put thumb in the mouth unconsciously (especially at night), when child’s mental control over his/her behavior is not at work.

Aversive approaches can be divided into two categories: home remedies (such as bad tasting products and band aids, which usually don’t work) and fixed appliance therapy, which includes intraoral devices (cribs or rakes), offered by dentists. The impression is taken before these intraoral devices (see picture) are fitted in child’s mouth and glued to child’s molars for the period from six to twelve months. These devices are rather expensive and they force children to alter their speech, and also make it difficult for them to eat certain foods (like peanut butter). A clinical evaluation recommends that intraoral devices should be used as a last resort: -“ThumbGuard™ provides a low cost option before this therapy needs to be tried”.[1]

The mechanical approach category consists of devices, which are designed to prevent or interrupt thumb sucking, which appear to be the soothing factor for children. Examples include a sock over the hand or an ace bandage wrapped around the child’s elbow. The latter would prevent the child from bending his/her arm and reaching their mouth. But it also restricts movement in a very negative way by making the sleeping process very uncomfortable at night, also limiting the child’s ability to play during the day.

The latest and most successful version of the mechanical approach is ThumbGuard™ – safe and efficient, listed by the FDA as a medical device.Made out of medical grade plastic material, ThumbGuard™ is soft and clear. It does not restrict child’s ability to play and it doesn’t cause any major discomfort. It interrupts the process of sucking by breaking the vacuum created by sucking, thus removing the child’s pleasure without creating any negative feelings, which can be interpreted by a child as apunishment. Treatment with ThumbGuard™ usually lasts four weeks and has very high success rate.

We are so confident that our product will stop thumb sucking, we offer a 30 day money back guarantee (for U.S. customers only). Please go to the section “About ThumbGuard™”, where details of the treatment are discussed.

If a child sucks his/her fingers, we can help with our FingerGuard™ – a device designed similarly to ThumbGuard™.

SOURCES:
1. Casamassimo, Paul S. The ThumbGuard™ Appliance: Pilot Research. Southern Smiles Communicator, v.1, no.1.

ThumbGuard Guarantee

ThumbGuard™ Kit contents

Each thumb sucking treatment kit “ThumbGuard™” includes everything your child needs to stop thumb sucking safely and efficiently usually within one month.

It consists of:
2 ambidextrous ThumbGuard™ appliances (Regular or Junior);
60 multicolored wristbands (bracelets)*;
1 VHS informational video;
1 written instruction booklet.

If treatment is required for more than 30 days, an additional set of bracelets can be purchased separately.

Finger Guard™ Kit contents

Each finger sucking treatment kit “FingerGuard™” includes everything your child needs to stop finger sucking safely and efficiently within one month.

It consists of:|
1 FingerGuard™ appliances (Regular or Junior);
50 multicolored wristbands (bracelets)*;
1 VHS informational video;
1 written instruction booklet.

If treatment is required for longer time, an additional set of bracelets can be purchased separately.

Unconditional Guarantee
We will replace any component in this kit free of charge if it is found to be defective due to material or workmanship within 30 days of purchase. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the performance of this treatment within 30 days of purchase, you can return unused portion of the kit along with original invoice or cash receipt to the address on the bottom of the box for the refund of the cost of the kit.

Privacy and Security
Information you provided to us in the order form or through correspondence is used to fill your orders and answer your questions. If you have any questions regarding the use of your personal information, please let us know.

Testimonials

Posted By: Dr. Perry Patel
Even though my son was only 18mths old i wanted to stop his constant thumbsucking habit. I found your product through practicon dental supply. Initially i was very skeptical, but he quit sucking in about 3 weeks, the appliance was a little big for his hand but it still worked. being a children’s dentist, i now have a relatively inexpensive resource for my patients. This is not a paid testimonial!

Posted By:MS. STELLA STROUBAKIS
My baby is 2 years old and has been sucking his finger, day and night, since the day he was born. He was hurting his thumb, but thanks to your treatment, my baby doesnt suck his finger anymore. I entered Univision.com, which is dedicated to mothers and children, and i gave them the name of your company, because i want to help them the same way that you have helped me with this fabulous treatment. In the name of my husband, we are so thankful for this fabulous invention.Sincerely,
Lucelia.

Posted By:Nicole Fain
Just wanted to say that I was completely surprised and shocked that my 4 1/2 year old daughter finally stopped sucking her thumb thanks to T-Guard. She wore them for 3 weeks in December 2001 at night only. I had tried every possible thing I had heard about, to no avail. I was skeptical as she had a die hard, serious habit.

We had made some progress behaviorally since age 3 by telling her she was welcome to suck her thumb but she must do it in her room. Therefore she pretty much gave it up during the day. She still sucked her thumb when she got sleepy in the car, for naps or bedtime. She WANTED to stop, she would try for about 15 minutes at night and then cry because she was so exhausted while fighting this huge urge to suck her thumb.

The T-Guard took away her need to fight the urge and the inner conflict. It simply helped her break the habit. She was so happy with herself! I wish I knew about these when she was 2!I would add that I promoted T-Guard to her from the beginning as a special, beautiful bracelet for girls who want to have “princess teeth.”

I showed her the picture of the girl wearing it on your website and told her she was going to be a big girl just like the girl in the picture. We told her after wearing this special bracelet her teeth would not stick out anymore and she would have “princess teeth.”

Finally, when she wore the last bracelet and had not sucked her thumb for a whole month, we rewarded her by buying her a “big girl bed.” She was so proud of herself. We gave her lots of positive encouragement and praise along the way. I’m totally surprised that only a few months later, her teeth have moved back to a normal position and do not stick out at all. They are completely in line with her other teeth and her smile looks so much prettier.

So wanted to say thank you again and let you know that your product worked.

Sincerely, Nicole Fain

Posted By:MS. ANN RICHARDS
I just wanted to say “THANK YOU”! I had a lot of doubts that the thumbguard would be able to stop my four year old son from sucking his thumb, but i have to say it was a miracle! Three weeks of constant wearing and he doesn’t even try to put his thumb in his mouth anymore. It didn’t interfere at all with any of his daily activities, and after his initial reluctance, it didn’t bother himat all. I wish i had this 10 years ago when my daughter was the same age (would have saved a lot of tears and dental visits!) Thanks so much!

Posted By:BRON TSCHUMPERLIN
To whom it may concern,I purchased the ThumbGuard for my 5-1/2 year old daughter about one month ago. Before this product I tried everything to get her to stop sucking her thumb. She was sucking her thumb day and night. She wore the ThumbGuard for 3 weeks. During this time she was chewing on the ThumbGuard. This made me think that it was not going to work for her. I took off the ThumbGuard after the 3-week period and she is no longer sucking her thumb not even at bedtime. This product is wonderful. I will share this with my daughter’s doctor in hopes that she will recommend this product to others.
Sincerely,
Jackie Bonaiuto

News and Articles

IN THE NEWS Charlotte Observer, April 5, 1999

Dad’s creation stands guard against thumb-suckingAmerican Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, February 1, 1999

Thumbsucking – stop it earlyKidSource OnLine, Sept. 30, 1996

Preschoolers, Preteens Quit Thumbsucking With Help from Colorful, Low-Cost Bracelet STUDIES Southern Smiles Communicator, Vol. 1, No.1 page 5

The Thumbguard Appliance: Pilot Research Clinical Research Associates, Vol. 19, Issue 6, June 1995
Evaluation Summary