Smile renewal through orthodontic braces and tongue cribs in adult open bite treatment - A case report

Skeletal open bite represents one of the most complex malocclusions for managing and sustaining correction, owing to its treatment's inherent difficulty and instability.Patients with anterior open bite exhibit a dentoalveolar component and an increased skeletal vertical dimension.This study examines the orthodontic treatment of a 22-year-old female patient presenting with Angle Class I malocclusion and anterior open bite, utilizing a combination of a fixed tongue crib and orthodontic braces.The patient expressed concerns regarding lip aesthetics and speech difficulties, which impeded word pronunciation.The anterior open bite was attributed to chronic tongue thrusting.The treatment protocol included the insertion of a fixed tongue crib to mitigate tongue thrusts and the application of orthodontic braces to realign the teeth.Over 18 months, there was a marked improvement in occlusion and facial aesthetics.The anterior open bite was successfully corrected, and functional aspects such as chewing and speech were enhanced.This case underscores the significance of integrating behavioral modification strategies with traditional orthodontic techniques in managing complex adult malocclusions.