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Jaw Back to jaw wiring principles for providers

The protocol for OJW as illustrated  by the Case of NM

ORTHODONTIC JAW WIRING USED TO CONTROL ADULT THUMB SUCKING
August 8, 2007

See below the opinion and commentary of 24 other adults who suck/sucked their fingers

MM is a resident of NY State in a town requiring a 45 mile drive to my office in Brooklyn Heights. She has a precious five year-old daughter who she  wanted to wean form thumb sucking. Her BMI was about 36. GUESS WHAT HER PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WAS?  IT WAS THE VERY TITLE OF THIS PAGE.

Front view at start

Right side view at start

Front view all brackets on Special Note: For the first time I have placed clear brackets on the upper teeth. Indeed I see few impediments to placing clear brackets on the canines and the first premolars as well. Here you can clearly see all the brackets and the clear bracket used on the upper right canine teeth.

Note how I have angled the brackets backward.

 

Both right and left sides are wire to create an equally balanced feeling. When a patient is wired correctly the upper and lower teeth do not touch. This position is called "Rothstein's OJW position of physiologic rest". I have used .012 dead-soft stainless steel wire wire to suspend the lower jaw from the upper jaw allowing the lower jaw to move 1.5-2.0 mm in all directions. We didn't have time to record how she sounded when she spoke, however,

February 1, 2002,  Begin OJW Valerie Freeland (Hear how she sounds wired.).

  she opined that she delighted with the clarity of her speech. You can hear how another patient with OJW sounded back in Feb. 2002

MM like all other OJW patients was briefed on the guidelines needed to follow to achieve success and stay clear of harm's way.
SHE WAS SO HAPPY SHE LEFT  THE OFFICE FORGETTING TO TAKE THE PACKAGE OF INSTRUMENTS WE PREPARED FOR HER.  WE MAILED IT TO HER. TUNE IN TO MM'S FIRST REPORT ON THE TORTURE OF GOING  "COLD TURKEY" ON A THUMB SUCKING HABIT OF 33 YEARS.
   
   
   
what does thumb or finger sucking mean in adults? by Deb 9/1/03
     stress by jonny anomaly 1/19/04
     It means that whoever you are talking about needs to see a psychologist. And I am not... by TheVoiceOfReason 1/29/04
     If you are a closet adult thumb sucker. Don't worry there are many of us out there. I 28... by Anon 2/13/04
     Although I don't suck my thumb, I catch myself with any other finger in my mouth if I'm... by n-a 2/14/04
     I suck my thumb when I am very comfortable and relaxed. I suck my thumb when I am alone... by shruken thumb 2/29/04
     Thumbsucking, in an adult, is usually and simply a manifestation of habit, as opposed to a... by Harvey 4/3/04
     I'm A 34 year old former U.S. Marine, High School teacher with a college degree. Have a... by Robert 4/13/04
     When adults suck on their thumbs their usually happy and don't think of what their doing. ... by A kind stranger 4/13/04
     I'm 27 and have sucked my thumb every day of every year. My teeth are fine. I used to... by Reesie 4/23/04
     I am 21 years old, and about to get married. I have sucked my thumb since birth. I... by KK 4/24/04
     I'm 30 years old. I stopped sucking my thumb for about eight months when I was a senior in... by MALANA 5/1/04
     I am 18 years old, in college, and am still sucking my thumb. My family has pressured me... by Catamanda21 5/2/04
     I am also an ex-Marine and a police officer. I am getting into amateur bodybuilding also.... by Toughguy76 5/15/04
     I have been seeing a psychologist for PTSD for almost 3 years now. I have sucked my thumb... by itsverynormal 5/28/04
     I like to suck fingers? I dont know why? I suck my boyfriends fingers..and kiss his hands?... by Rene 5/31/04
     I am 23 and have been sucking my thumb before birth. I still don't know why I do it but it... by Sucker101 6/2/04
     I am 21 and while the thumb sucking habit has moved from frequent (while under stress) to... by mini   6/23/04
     I have a 17 year old daughter that sucks her thumb all the time while shes at home, it... by sum1cool 6/27/04
     I am a 36 year old wife, mother, and college professor. I have privately sucked my thumb... by teacher 6/28/04
     I am 39. I am an avid thumb sucker. I have thought about how life would be if I lost my... by serophi2513   6/29/04
     I am a 35 year old wife and mother and have been a thumb sucker my whole life. My... by Shayde 7/1/04
     I am a 40 year old male and I have been sucking my left thumb since birth. I suck my... by muffinman 7/4/04
     My girlfriend just confessed to me recently that she sucks her thumb. She had hid it from... by vman   7/5/04
     I'm 34 years old, a wife, mother, and college administrator. I've been sucking my thumb... by NJ1 7/9/04
     I am a model and have been sucking my thumb all my life. I use to smoke and the only times... by modelchick   7/11/04
     I'm now 28 and have been sucking my finger longer than I can remember. I only ever do it... by cerebus 7/14/04
     I am a 39 yr. old thumb sucker who has also hidden it for most of my life. Even my... by jennie 7/15/04
     I am 15 yrs. old and I sucked my thumb until I was 4 when my mom forced me to stop and... by Christina   7/21/04
     I am 15 yrs. old and I sucked my thumb until I was 4 when my mom forced to stop and bribed... by pinkie sucker

 

Sunday August 12, 2007,  MM writes:

As for me and my "journey", let's just say that I have taken on an extremely
"mental challenge" and it takes a huge amount of discipline to stay level
headed.  Please know that by NO MEANS do I regret this, I am at the end of
day two and I feel a little lighter already!!! (4 pounds down)

However, I am going to admit that I do long for my thumb when I am tired and
have attempted to put it in my mouth several times without thinking!  A
life-long habit that has aided me to sleep all of my nights!  So, I wait
until I am soooooo tired that I can't keep my eyes open to go to bed!

I will keep you more informed later in the week about the weight loss and of
course the thumb!