The Treatment of Anterior Open Bite Associated with a Thumb Sucking Habit: A Case Report

Abstract

Anterior open bite malocclusion, defined as a lack of vertical overlap or contact between the maxillary and mandibular incisors, has a multifactorial etiology. A 17-year-old female patient came to the Egas Moniz University Clinic complaining of anterior open bite. The patient had posterior crossbite on the left side, second premolar agenesis, the presence of a primary molar, and a thumb-sucking habit. This case report describes a nonsurgical orthodontic treatment of an anterior open bite, applying a fixed appliance and bonded acrylic expander.

Keywords

• open bite
• posterior crossbite
• thumb sucking
• orthodontic treatment