Nonsurgical treatment of a severe anterior open bite: a case report.

Open bite malocclusion has long been considered a great challenge to orthodontists because its etiology is generally multifactorial and can be due to a combination of skeletal, dental and soft tissue factors. Many treatment modalities to correct open bites have been proposed (orthognathic surgery or dental compensations). Dental compensation, such as intruding posterior teeth, uprighting and extruding anterior teeth is a feasible option for patients with originally proclined incisors. This article illustrates the successful orthodontic treatment of a severe anterior open bite case complicated with severe crowding in mandibular arch, treated with extractions of maxillary and mandibular premolars. A 27 years 7 months female presented with an anterior open bite of 10 mm and 15mm of overjet, increased facial height, and severe crowding in mandibular arch. The orthodontic treatment consisted of extracting maxillary and mandibular first premolars and the mandibular left supernumerary premolar to retract the upper incisors and to relieve the lower crowding. After active treatment of 30 months, Class I molars and canines occlusion was achieved with proper overbite and overjet. Retraction of maxillary incisors helped correct the anterior open bite.