Aims: To evaluate and characterize the skeletodental morphology of anterior open-bite cases in the Saudi Arabian population and the differences between males and females.
Subjects and methods: Cephalometric characteristics of 111 (58 females, 53 males) subjects with anterior open bite were compared with 60 (30 females and 30 males) control subjects. Both open-bite and control subjects were patients in the orthodontic department at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. The inclusion criterion for open-bite subjects was the presence of at least 1-mm anterior open bite. For control subjects, the criteria were orthognathic profile with a Class I molar and canine relationship. All cephalometric radiographs were digitized.
Results: Both female and male open-bite subjects showed a significant increase in the lower anterior facial height, mandibular plane angle, gonial angle, Y-axis, mandibular occlusal plane to SN angle, and a significant decrease in maxillary length. Both the maxilla and the mandible were in a retruded position in relation to the SN plane. In addition, the interincisal angle was significantly increased. However, all dental heights showed no significant differences between open-bite and control subjects. Gender differences were found only in the significantly decreased linear skeletal measurements and in mandibular anterior and posterior dental heights. Comparison between the results of this study and reported studies of other populations revealed insignificant differences in most of the measurements.
Conclusion: This study confirms previous studies that showed the openbite malocclusion is largely due to changes in the skeletal pattern.