Introduction:

Digital suction has been described as a common habit in childhood, but it can cause several anomalies if it is persistent and accompanied by an unfavorable skeletal pattern.

Objective:

To evaluate the results of an educational intervention program performed in children aged 6 -11 years with the habit of digital suction who belong to Julio Pérez and Domingo Lence elementary schools, San Antonio de los Baños municipality.

Material and Methods:

A quasi-experimental study was conducted. A sample of 42 children was selected from a universe that was made up of 107 children with deleterious habits, keeping in mind inclusion criteria. The variables analyzed included: age, sex, level of knowledge, dental and maxillofacial anomalies and cessation of the habit. The data were taken from the results of the application of a questionnaire. Percentages were used for the analysis of the information and statistical tables and figures were developed. Theoretical, empirical, and statistical methods were used; documentary analysis was also carried out.

Results:

The condition predominated in children aged 6 - 7 years (47,6%) and the female sex (73,8 %). Among dental and maxillofacial anomalies, labial dysfunction was identified in 95,2% of children and augmentation of projection was present in 92,8% of the cases. Also, 83.3% of children developed an appropriate knowledge and 78,6% eradicated the habit.

Conclusions:

Female children and the age group between 6 and 7 years of age predominated in the study. The most frequent dental and maxillofacial anomalies were labial dysfunction followed by augmentation of projection. The level of knowledge increased and the cessation of the habit was high.

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