Stability of anterior open bite cases treated with upper and lower extrusion arches in adults: a follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the post-treatment stability of anterior open bite (AOB) cases treated with upper and lower extrusion arches in adults.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

23 patients with AOB were treated with extrusion arches and evaluated for dentoskeletal changes using lateral cephalometric radiographs before treatment (T0), after treatment (T1), and 12 months post-treatment (T2). Patients received bondable tongue spurs and vacuum-formed retainers as post-treatment retention/stability measures for 12 months. Post-treatment stability was further assessed qualitatively by the Photographic Openbite Severity Index.

RESULTS

All the cases showed positive overlap between the anterior teeth at the end of orthodontic treatment, and 20 of 23 treated patients attended the recall visit after 12 months. A total of 85% of the cases maintained positive overlap at least 1 year post-treatment, 10% showed edge-to-edge bite, and only 5% showed no overbite.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of AOB in adults with extrusion arches proved to be stable 1 year post-treatment. Changes in the overbite after 1 year of follow-up were not significant.