Treatment for the correction of an open bite

ABSTRACT

A 21-year-old female patient presented for an orthodontic examination with the request to resolve an anterior open bite and achieve correct dental alignment.

Clinical and cephalometric examination revealed a Class I skeletal defect (ANB 0.5°) on a hyperdivergent base (FMA 31°), with reduced transverse diameters. Dentally, the patient exhibited Class I molar and canine defects, with normally inclined lower incisors (IMPA 92°) and vestibulo-inclined upper incisors (119°). An increased curve of Spee and an anterior open bite were present, with no crowding in the lower arch.

The anterior Bolton Index analysis, equal to 81%, suggests a slight discrepancy in tooth size between the arches, potentially manageable with selective stripping.

The primary therapeutic objective is to close the open bite and harmonize the incisal inclination, through a treatment plan aimed at re-establishing occlusal function and improving the aesthetics of the smile, with particular attention to vertical control and the stability of the result over time.