Treatment and retreatment of a patient with a severe anterior open bite.

ABSTRACT

An 8-mm anterior and posterior open bite caused by a tongue rest posture habit was closed in a 25-year-old man by means of mandibular soldered tongue spurs and without orthognathic surgery. All maxillary and mandibular first molars were extracted, and the spaces were closed. Inappropriate retention protocol allowed for relapse in a 6-month period. A new 1-year orthodontic retreatment was conducted; after an appropriate retention protocol, the outcomes of treatment were significantly improved.