Stability of anterior openbite treated with crib therapy

The records of 33 openbite patients treated with cribs were collected. The sample was divided into two groups with group one comprised of 26 growing patients and group two comprised of seven nongrowing patients. There was a significant increase in overbite for both groups during treatment. The nongrowing group also showed a significant increase in overbite during the posttreatment period. During the posttreatment time interval 17.4 percent of the growing sample and zero percent of the nongrowing sample exhibited relapse. However, all patients who achieved a positive overbite during treatment maintained a positive overbite posttreatment. These findings suggest that patients who achieve a positive overbite with crib therapy have a good chance of maintaining this correction after orthodontic treatment is completed. This statement appears to be true for both growing and nongrowing patients. The reason for this increased stability may be due to a modification of tongue position or posture.