Prevalence of Anterior Open Bite among Yemeni Adults

Background: Anterior open bites a vertical discrepancy where the upper incisors crowns fail to overlap the lower incisors crown when the mandible brought into the centric occlusion. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of anterior open bite in the permanent dentition in a sample of sample of Yemeni adults, 18-25 years old in Sana’a city. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in Sana’a at the faculties of dentistry (Sana’a, Al-Salam, and Science and Technology Universities) to ensure a mixed ethnic sample from all cities in Yemen for a sample of 1585 students (576 male and 1009 female). The overbite was recorded in the dental clinics for the dental students directly in the oral cavity by measuring with metallic rulers the degree of the vertical overlap of the upper incisors to the lower incisors during centric occlusion. The data was processed and analyzed using computer software program “SPSS” (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 17. A descriptive statistical analysis was used in this study. Results: The overall prevalence of the anterior open bite in the current study was 4.1%, more frequent among male (8%) than female (1.9%). The normal overbite account was 41.2%, increased overbite reported in 26.75% of the sample, reduced over bite in 22.15%, while edge to edge was recorded in 5.8% of the sample. Conclusion: The prevalence of anterior open bite in Yemeni adults was 4.1%. Males generally showed a higher percentage, 4 times more than female (7.99 in male and 1.88 in female).