Orthodontic retreatment with clear aligners of an adult patient with late development of anterior open bite

Abstract

Correcting an anterior open bite in an adult patient often presents a formidable challenge for orthodontists. This case report presents a 67-year-old woman who previously completed successful orthodontic treatment with maxillary first premolar extractions and developed an anterior open bite after approximately 40 years of retention. Her treatment consisted of a stabilization splint for 6 months, followed by orthodontic therapy with clear aligners. The treatment results demonstrated successful intrusion of mandibular second molars and minor relative extrusion of the incisors. Treatment was completed with ideal occlusal relationships with Class II molars in accordance with previous maxillary first premolar extractions, Class I canines, and acceptable overjet and overbite. The patient showed stable results at the 12-month follow-up, with a minor decrease in vertical overlap, and the patient reported improvement in her chewing abilities and satisfaction with her final occlusion and esthetics.