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Etiology and Types of Open Bite Malocclusion
- Open bite malocclusion can occur due to various reasons, including genetic factors, functional habits, and transitional changes from primary to permanent dentition.
- Factors such as tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, long-term pacifier usage, macroglossia, airway obstruction, adenoid hypertrophy, and nasal concha hypertrophy can contribute to open bite.
- Non-nutritive sucking habits like finger and pacifier sucking have been proven to be linked to open bite.
- Secondary dysfunctions can occur due to the protrusion of maxillary incisors, which disrupts lip seal and tongue position.
- Hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils can cause airway obstruction, leading to mouth breathing and potential open bite development.
- Open bite malocclusion can be classified into different types, including anterior open bite, posterior open bite, skeletal open bite, and dental open bite.
- Each type of open bite has distinct causes and characteristics.
Prevalence of Open Bite Malocclusion
- The prevalence of anterior open bite varies between studies, estimated to be between 1.5% and 11% in the population.
- Prevalence decreases with age as oral function improves, with 4.2% of six-year-olds exhibiting anterior open bite compared to only 2% of fourteen-year-olds.
- Disparities in prevalence exist across different ethnicities, with 3.5% observed among Caucasian children and 16.5% among Afro-descendant children in the US.
- Age and ethnicity play a role in the prevalence of anterior open bite.
- Proper oral function development can reduce the prevalence of anterior open bite.
Treatment Options for Open Bite Malocclusion
- Treatment options for open bite malocclusion include orthodontic treatment with braces, the use of functional appliances, surgical intervention, palatal expansion, and extraction of teeth.
- Behavior therapy and appliances like tongue crib or tongue spurs can be used to control habits and correct anterior open bite.
- Vertical pull chin cup can be used in treating skeletal open bite patients.
- Extrusion of anterior teeth or intrusion of posterior teeth can be considered in the treatment of open bite malocclusion.
- High-pull headgear can be used for controlling the vertical dimension.
Stability and Relapse in Open Bite Malocclusion Treatment
- Orthognathic surgery is a stable surgical approach for open bite correction.
- Higher stability is observed in orthognathic surgical correction compared to non-surgical correction.
- Relapse after intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth is possible, with the majority of relapse occurring during the first year of treatment.
- Cephalometric analysis and long face syndrome are related topics in stability and relapse of open bite correction.
Complications and Challenges in Open Bite Malocclusion Treatment
- Temporomandibular joint disorders, speech difficulties, esthetic concerns, patient discomfort during treatment, and the need for a multidisciplinary approach are some of the complications and challenges in open bite malocclusion treatment.
- Temporomandibular joint disorders can be a complication of open bite malocclusion.
- Speech difficulties, chewing and swallowing problems, facial aesthetics, and dental wear and tear can be affected by open bite malocclusion treatment.
This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. (April 2017) |
Open bite is a type of orthodontic malocclusion which has been estimated to occur in 0.6% of the people in the United States. This type of malocclusion has no vertical overlap or contact between the anterior incisors. The term "open bite" was coined by Carevelli in 1842 as a distinct classification of malocclusion. Different authors have described the open bite in a variety of ways. Some authors have suggested that open bite often arises when overbite is less than the usual amount. Additionally, others have contended that open bite is identified by end-on incisal relationships. Lastly, some researchers have stated that a lack of incisal contact must be present to diagnose an open bite.
Treatment of an open bite is complex and long-term stability is difficult to achieve, making it a challenging condition due to the high risk of vertical relapse, regardless of the treatment method used or the retention protocol followed.
