Anterior open bite and gingival recession in children and adolescents

Gingival recession is a manifestation of periodontal breakdown. Plaque microorganisms are the primary aetiological factor, but other secondary conditions are also associated with its presence. This study examined the hypothesis that localized gingival recession is more prevalent in open-bite cases. The study included 26 children with untreated anterior open bite and a matched control group. Clinical crown length, recession depth, oral habits and periodontal indices were recorded for each individual. Although the plaque index was not significantly different between the two groups, the open-bite group showed significantly greater clinical crown length and gingival inflammation. This may be attributed to increased virulence of dehydrated plaque and it is suggested that open bite may predispose to the development of localized gingival recession in the anterior segments of young individuals.