Scoping Review—The Effectiveness of Clear Aligners in the Management of Anterior Open Bite in Adult Patients

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Anterior open-bite malocclusion remains a challenging orthodontic condition where achieving a positive overbite necessitates precise control of incisor extrusion and molar intrusion. With recent advances in clear aligner therapy-improved materials, attachment techniques and digital treatment planning-the potential for non-invasive treatment has increased. This scoping review systematically maps the evidence on the efficacy of clear aligners in treating anterior open bite among adult patients, outlines treatment protocols and highlights gaps in the literature. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Embase/ScienceDirect and Clarivate/Web of Science for literature published in English between January 2000 and December 2024. Studies involving adult patients treated with clear aligners (predominantly Invisalign<sup>®</sup>) were included. A two-step screening process was applied, and data were charted according to pre-specified criteria. The review adheres to the PRISMA-ScR checklist guidelines. <i>Results</i>: From an initial pool of 802 articles, 30 met the inclusion criteria following duplicate removal and full-text screening. The evidence suggests that clear aligners can achieve measurable incisor extrusion and posterior intrusion when appropriate auxiliary techniques (e.g., attachments and mini screws) are used. However, digital treatment planning software may overestimate movement predictions, necessitating iterative refinement phases. Patient compliance, clinician expertise and technological limitations are key factors influencing outcomes. <i>Conclusions</i>: Clear aligner therapy represents a promising alternative to fixed appliances for anterior open-bite correction in adults, although challenges remain in achieving precise vertical control. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials and standardized outcome measures are needed to confirm long-term stability and efficacy.

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Publication Details

Journal
Medicina
Published
2025-06-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61061113
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.35
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article

Scoping Review—The Effectiveness of Clear Aligners in the Management of Anterior Open Bite in Adult Patients

Eduard Radu Cernei, Livia Nastri, Cristian Romanec, Irina Zetu et al.
2 citations
Medicina
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
3.35
article

Scoping Review—The Effectiveness of Clear Aligners in the Management of Anterior Open Bite in Adult Patients

Eduard Radu Cernei, Livia Nastri, Cristian Romanec, Irina Zetu, Nicolae Daniel Olteanu, Nikolaos Karvelas
article en
2 citations

Abstract

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Anterior open-bite malocclusion remains a challenging orthodontic condition where achieving a positive overbite necessitates precise control of incisor extrusion and molar intrusion. With recent advances in clear aligner therapy-improved materials, attachment techniques and digital treatment planning-the potential for non-invasive treatment has increased. This scoping review systematically maps the evidence on the efficacy of clear aligners in treating anterior open bite among adult patients, outlines treatment protocols and highlights gaps in the literature. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Embase/ScienceDirect and Clarivate/Web of Science for literature published in English between January 2000 and December 2024. Studies involving adult patients treated with clear aligners (predominantly Invisalign<sup>®</sup>) were included. A two-step screening process was applied, and data were charted according to pre-specified criteria. The review adheres to the PRISMA-ScR checklist guidelines. <i>Results</i>: From an initial pool of 802 articles, 30 met the inclusion criteria following duplicate removal and full-text screening. The evidence suggests that clear aligners can achieve measurable incisor extrusion and posterior intrusion when appropriate auxiliary techniques (e.g., attachments and mini screws) are used. However, digital treatment planning software may overestimate movement predictions, necessitating iterative refinement phases. Patient compliance, clinician expertise and technological limitations are key factors influencing outcomes. <i>Conclusions</i>: Clear aligner therapy represents a promising alternative to fixed appliances for anterior open-bite correction in adults, although challenges remain in achieving precise vertical control. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials and standardized outcome measures are needed to confirm long-term stability and efficacy.

MedicinaVol. 61(6)
University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy (RO)
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
3.35
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