Treatment of adult anterior open bite and crossbite case with LH MEAW

 
WANG Yu-Jia, YU Jian-Hong
Department of Dentistry, Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital
Department of Orthodontics, China Medical University and Medical Center

 
[Objective]
      The purpose of this presentation is to introduce the clinical benefits by using LH MEAW to intrude and tip back posterior teeth, and to discuss orthodontic treatment for anterior open bite and crossbite case by LH (improved super-elastic Ti-Ni alloy wire, developed by the Tokyo Medical and Dental University).
[Case Presentation]
      An adult female (21 years old) came to our clinic with a chief complaint of protruding front teeth with anterior open bite and crossbite.  She had received orthodontic treatment before.  With a view to improving this patient’s facial profile, we decided to have the first premolars and the third molars extracted, and then we used LH posterior MEAW to facilitate bite control and canine distal drive.  When the degree of anterior open bite lessened, we used Class III elastics to perform anterior retraction so as to correct anterior crossbite.  After active treatment of about one year, adequate overbite & overjet, and individual normal occlusion were achieved.
[Discussion and Summary]
      It is very important to decide the priority in treatment of anterior open bite and crossbite case, and to confirm the differential diagnosis of their causes.  This case showed no functional interference and therefore, after initially controlling the degree of open bite, we ought to perform the correction of anterior crossbite so as not to interfere with the achievement of adequate overbite & overjet.  Generally speaking, we can use LH posterior MEAW to control the bite and to offer anchorage preparation, and thus, we can lessen the degree of anterior open bite and secure sufficient anchorage.  This case shows bimaxillary protrusion combined with anterior open bite and crossbite.  We have to deal with the priority in treatment and the technique in bite control to achieve a satisfactory treatment result.