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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
Long-term stability of anterior open-bite treatment by intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth
Man-Suk Baek1, Yoon-Jeong Choi2, Hyung-Seog Yu3
1Graduate student, Department of Orthodontics, Oral Science Research Center, Instititute of Craniofacial Deformity, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Introduction:
Anterior open bite results from the combined influences of skeletal, dental, functional, and habitual factors. The long-term stability of anterior open bite corrected with absolute anchorage has not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term stability of anterior open-bite correction with intrusion of the maxillary posterior teeth.
Methods:
Nine adults with anterior open bite were treated by intrusion of the maxillary posterior teeth. Lateral cephalographs were taken immediately before and after treatment, 1 year posttreatment, and 3 years posttreatment to evaluate the postintrusion stability of the maxillary posterior teeth.
Results:
On average, the maxillary first molars were intruded by 2.39 mm (P<0.01) during treatment and erupted by 0.45 mm (P<0.05) at the 3-year follow-up, for a relapse rate of 22.88%. Eighty percent of the total relapse of the intruded maxillary first molars occurred during the first year of retention. Incisal overbite increased by a mean of 5.56 mm (P<0.001) during treatment and decreased by a mean of 1.20 mm (P<0.05) by the end of the 3-year follow-up period, for a relapse rate of 17.00%. Incisal overbite significantly relapsed during the first year of retention (P<0.05) but did not exhibit significant recurrence between the 1-year and 3-year follow-ups.
Conclusions:
Most relapse occurred during the first year of retention. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that the application of an appropriate retention method during this period clearly enhances the long-term stability of the treatment.
