2007 Annual Session - Correction Of Anterior Open Bite With Spurs - Long-Term Stability

To illustrate the effectiveness of the spur appliance, Dr. Justus will present clinical cases and cephalograms of patients with dental and skeletal AOBs treated with spurs. The records of these patients formed part of an AOB sample for a University of Washington thesis that confirmed there is statistically significant increased long-tem stability in corrected AOBs with spur use. This study concluded that stability of AOB correction is apparently related to a modification in tongue posture due to the spurs, both in growing and in non-growing patients.

Learning Objectives:

• High relapse incidence of treated anterior open bite malocclusions occurs, whether conventional or a combination or orthodontic/Orthognathic procedures are employed
• Anterior tongue rest posture is an important etiologic factor in such relapse
• Maxillary fixed intraoral appliance with spurs is used to modify anterior tongue rest posture
• Research with this appliance, in large sample of patients with anterior open bite, demonstrates long term stability postretention