Dental Admissions Test (DAT) Practice Test

Which oral habit is known to lead to malocclusion?

1. Chewing gum

2. Thumb sucking

3. Brush biting

4. Teeth grinding

The correct answer is: Thumb sucking

Thumb sucking is known to lead to malocclusion due to the physical pressure it exerts on the teeth and developing dental arches over time. When children repeatedly suck their thumbs, they create an environment where their upper front teeth can be pushed forward and the lower front teeth may be pushed backward. This alteration in positioning can cause misalignment and misplacement of teeth as they erupt and develop, potentially resulting in a variety of malocclusion types, such as overbite or open bite. This behavior is often more impactful during the primary dentition stage when the jaw and teeth are still developing, making it crucial for parents and caregivers to monitor and mitigate thumb sucking as much as possible. In terms of the other habits listed, while they can cause dental wear or discomfort, they do not inherently lead to the same structural changes in tooth positioning or alignment that thumb sucking does. For instance, chewing gum generally does not exert the consistent localized pressure that thumb sucking does, and teeth grinding primarily leads to wear rather than misalignment.