Get started with the Thumb Program at Pediatric Dental Partners!

At Pediatric Dental Partners, we understand that many of our families have concerns about thumb-sucking. To support the thumb-free efforts of our patients, Drs. Crawford, Wallace, Backofen and Chidlow are proud to promote our Thumb Program!

To participate, visit Pediatric Dental Partners and let us know you'd like to sign up. Supplies will be given to your child at the office along with instructions, descriptive photos and incentives for success.

Directions are below:

1. Parents should paint a small amount of Mavala Stop on the child’s thumb or finger nail bed as if you were painting your fingernails with nail polish.

2. This procedure should be done every other night for five weeks in order to break the habit. Even if your child stops sucking their thumb the first night, you should continue to paint for the full five weeks to break the habit.

3. Our hygienist or assistant will establish a relationship with the child and will make weekly contact with the child and parent to monitor their progress and offer encouragement.

4. We also ask the parents to encourage and praise the child at home during the process.

5. We will have the child back in the office in five weeks for a check up and hopefully a graduation celebration from the Thumb Program. We will reward the child if they have been successful with a gift card of their choice.

Pediatric Dental Partners would like to congratulate Allye, a recent graduate from our Thumb Program! We are so proud of you!

If you have questions or would like to participate in our Thumb Program, please give us a call or find us on Facebook.