COM COM Oral Habits & Behavior Modification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Bruxism (teeth grinding) is classified as a sleep-related movement disorder and may contribute to which orofacial issue?
- Tongue thrust
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction and tooth wear (Correct answer)
- Anterior open bite
- Lip incompetence
Correct answer: Temporomandibular joint dysfunction and tooth wear
Bruxism generates excessive occlusal forces that accelerate tooth wear and can damage temporomandibular joint structures over time.
Question 2: Which term describes the habit of pressing or sucking the tongue against the teeth during swallowing or at rest?
- Tongue tie
- Tongue thrust (Correct answer)
- Macroglossia
- Glossoptosis
Correct answer: Tongue thrust
Tongue thrust is the forward or lateral pressure of the tongue against the teeth during swallowing or at rest, a common focus of myofunctional therapy.
Question 3: When counseling parents about their child's thumb-sucking habit, an orofacial myologist should first:
- Immediately recommend a palatal crib appliance
- Assess the frequency, duration, and intensity of the habit (Correct answer)
- Refer to an orthodontist for braces
- Apply a bitter-tasting substance to the thumb
Correct answer: Assess the frequency, duration, and intensity of the habit
Assessing habit frequency, duration, and intensity determines the severity and guides the appropriate intervention strategy.
Question 4: Which motivational approach is most effective when working with school-age children to eliminate oral habits?
- Shame-based correction
- Child-centered goal setting and intrinsic motivation (Correct answer)
- Parental enforcement alone
- Aversion conditioning
Correct answer: Child-centered goal setting and intrinsic motivation
Child-centered goal setting builds intrinsic motivation, which is more durable and effective than externally imposed correction for school-age children.
Question 5: A pacifier habit extending beyond age 3 is most likely to cause which orthodontic issue?
- Class III malocclusion
- Anterior open bite and posterior crossbite (Correct answer)
- Mandibular prognathism
- Deep overbite
Correct answer: Anterior open bite and posterior crossbite
Prolonged pacifier use tends to produce an anterior open bite and a posterior crossbite due to the forces exerted on the dental arches.
Question 6: What is 'habit reversal training' primarily designed to address?
- Increasing muscle tone in hypotonic patients
- Replacing an unwanted habit with an incompatible competing response (Correct answer)
- Desensitizing hypersensitive oral tissues
- Improving nasal airway patency
Correct answer: Replacing an unwanted habit with an incompatible competing response
Habit reversal training teaches patients to substitute a competing, incompatible behavior whenever they feel the urge to perform the target habit.
COM COM Oral Habits & Behavior Modification 2
Bruxism (teeth grinding) is classified as a sleep-related movement disorder and may contribute to which orofacial issue?