The use of skeletal anchorage in open bite treatment: a cephalometric evaluation

The aims of the present study were to assess the effectiveness of skeletal anchorage for intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth, to correct open bite malocclusion, and to evaluate the usage of titanium miniplates for orthodontic anchorage. Anterior open bite is one of the most difficult malocclusions to treat orthodontically. Currently, surgical impaction of the maxillary posterior segment is considered to be the most effective treatment option in adult patients. Various studies have reported the use of implants as anchorage units at different sites of midfacial bones for orthodontic tooth movement. The zygomatic buttress area could be a valuable anchorage site to achieve intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth. Ten patients, 17 to 23 years old and characterized with an anterior open bite and excessive maxillary posterior growth, were included in this preliminary study. Titanium miniplates were fixed bilaterally to the zygomatic buttress area, and a force was applied bilaterally with nine mm Ni-Ti coil springs between the vertical extension of the miniplate and the first molar buccal tube. The results showed that, with the help of skeletal anchorage, maxillary posterior teeth were intruded effectively. As compared with an osteotomy, this minimally invasive surgical procedure eased treatment and reduced treatment time and did not require headgear wear or anterior box elastics for anterior open bite correction. In conclusion, the zygomatic area was found to be a useful anchorage site for intrusion of the molars in a short period of time.