Dentist says 3.11 yr old should stop sucking his thumb

[mojoawol]

Have just taken DS to see Dentist for 1st time and he said that he really should stop sucking his thumb as it can affect the jaw and lead to possibly braces or (gulp) surgery in later life. I thought all this type of thing was just old wives tales - 'get the thumb/dummy out of their mouths or they'll end up with buck teeth'.
I sucked my thumb until I was about 7 and don't have any issues like this, and I can't imagine trying to get DS to stop, he uses it to calm himself and when he's tired. I had assumed he would stop of his own accord once he got to reception and other kids started taking the pee.
Has anyone had any similar situations? Older kids who used to suck their thumbs (state of their teeth please!), or any tips on getting them to quit - or re-assurance that it's fine!

my dd 23M sucks her thumb, the dentist told me not to worry about it until her adult teeth come in, as they are the ones that will last her till old age. i have no idea how i'd get her to stop anyway. she was born with a callus on her thumb which the mw said may suggest she sucked her thumb in the womb!

"my brother sucked his thumbs for years and is now 36 with perfect teeth." this only not with the perfect teeth. Didn't make him 'goofy' though!

thsi reminds me of the "my gran smokes 60 a day and is 70 and perfectly healthy" type conversations.

I sucked my thumb til I was about 13 - had a horrible overbite and ended up with braces for ages.

Heather -The dentist who told you not to worry about baby teeth was talking rubbish. For little kids the shape of their baby teeth affects how their big teeth come through.

An orthodontic shaped dummy would be better.

Thumbs are much worse than dummies for teeth as dummies are not attached to the hand and are more easily removed and controlled!!