Is jaw functional orthopedics an efficient tool to treat anterior open bite? A retrospective study

Anterior Open Bite (AOB) is a malocclusion for which the choice of a treatment protocol it is challenging. There are some protocols that have been shown to be effective for open bite treatment. The aim of this investigation was to study the behavior of overbite during AOB treatment with Jaw Functional Orthopedics (JFO). The behavior of overbite was studied retrospectively in 17 patients treated in the Specialization Course in (JFO – ABO Muriaé (Muriaé, MG Brazil). Monthly overbite measurements in millimeters were taken with a pachymeter and the data were stored in an individual paper worksheet. Data obtained before functional appliance installation (T0) and after 12-months of treatment (T1) were compared. Wilcoxon non-parametric test for 2 paired samples was use for statical treatment of the data. P= 0.003 for overbite comparison T1-T0. It could be concluded that Functional orthopedic appliance has shown to be an effective tool for treating anterior open bite in the sample studied. Further studies, mainly Randomized Clinical Trials, with larger samples are necessary to confirm this result and to study stability and skeletal behavior in anterior open bite treated with Jaw Functional orthopedics.