The mother of a 5-year-old patient is concerned about the child’s thumb-sucking habit. Six months ago, the patient had 5-mm overjet and a 3-mm anterior open bite. Today, the patient has 10% overbite and 3.5-mm overjet. The mother says that the child only sucks his thumb every night when falling to sleep. Of the following, which is the best advice?
Refer to a speech pathologist. Recommend tongue thrust therapy. Recommend a thumb-sucking appliance. Counsel the parent regarding thumb-sucking, and recall the patient in 3 months.