What do systematic reviews say?

Psychological interventions (positive/negative reinforcement, habit reversal, DRO) vs no treatment

Psychological interventions (positive/negative reinforcement, habit… may leads to higher sucking cessation (short term) compared with no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term (less than 12 months)
  RR 6.16 [1.18, 32.10]
  2 studies · 87 participants
  Low

Psychological intervention (habit reversal / positive reinforcement) vs Alternative psychological intervention (DRO / negative reinforcement)

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term (less than 12 months)
  Christensen 1987 (20 participants) compared habit reversal (HR) with differential reinforcement of other behaviour (DRO): no statistically significant difference. Larsson 1972 (38 participants) compared positive with…
  2 studies · 58 participants
  GRADE not reported

Palatal arch vs Palatal crib (alternative orthodontic appliance)

It is very uncertain whether palatal arch changes sucking cessation (short term) compared with palatal crib (alternative orthodontic appliance) (very low certainty).

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term (less than 12 months)
  RR 0.13 [0.03, 0.59]
  1 study · 22 participants
  Very low

Orthodontic appliances (palatal crib) vs no treatment

Orthodontic appliances (palatal arch/palatal crib) may leads to higher sucking cessation (short term) compared with no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term (less than 12 months)
  RR 6.53 [1.67, 25.53]
  2 studies · 70 participants
  Low

Psychological intervention + palatal arch vs Psychological intervention + palatal crib

Psychological intervention + palatal arch led to lower sucking cessation (short term) compared with psychological intervention + palatal crib; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term (less than 12 months)
  RR 0.30 [0.13, 0.74]
  1 study · 22 participants
  GRADE not reported

Aversive tasting substance applied to digit vs Psychological intervention (habit reversal)

Aversive tasting substance applied to digit showed no clear difference in sucking cessation (short term) compared with psychological intervention (habit reversal); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term (less than 12 months)
  RR 0.18 [0.03, 1.24]
  1 study · 29 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention + orthodontic treatment (palatal crib or palatal arch) vs no treatment

Psychological intervention + orthodontic treatment (palatal crib or… showed no clear difference in sucking cessation (short term) compared with no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short term (less than 12 months)
  RR 6.36 [0.97, 41.96]
  1 study · 32 participants
  GRADE not reported