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Case Reports
. 2024 Jun 30;16(6):e63549.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.63549. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Anterior Open Bite Treated With Palatal Crib and Myofunctional Therapy: A Case Report

Rohini Chandel  1 , Meenal S Pande  1 , Ramakrishna Yeluri  1 , Neha Pankey  1 , Monika Khubchandani  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Anterior Open Bite Treated With Palatal Crib and Myofunctional Therapy: A Case Report

Rohini Chandel et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

The most prevalent oral habit and one of the most often habitual behavioral patterns in preschool-aged children is thumb-sucking. This behavior is crucial to the development of malocclusion and must be addressed carefully since it may cause a secondary tongue thrust that worsens the issue. Developing an effective treatment plan requires determining the underlying cause, which may include psychological, physiological, and or anatomical factors. Overall prevention of behavior needs to be planned for successful outcomes. One such device for treating tongue-thrusting and thumb-sucking habits is the palatal crib. The present case shows the possible effectiveness of palatal crib use in conjunction with myofunctional therapy for a child whose diagnosis involves habitually holding the tongue low and sucking the thumb that causes an anterior open bite (AOB). An 11-year-old boy with flared and spaced upper and lower incisors also had an AOB. Myofunctional therapy was combined with palatal cribs to help the tongue reposition itself and discourage the habit of sucking. The AOB was successfully corrected with an appropriate overjet and overbite after a total of three months of treatment.

Keywords: anterior open bite; myofunctional treatment; overbite; palatal crib; thumb sucking habit; tongue thrusting habit.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Preoperative photograph showing an anterior open bite
This figure shows that the child has an anterior open bite which denotes a lack of contact between the upper and lower incisors while the posterior teeth are in class I molar relationship bilaterally. Here, the spacing between the upper and lower central incisors is 4 mm and continues laterally to the canine on both sides. Due to prolonged thumb-sucking, the child developed an anterior open bite.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Intraoral photograph showing palatal crib insertion
This figure shows that the palatal crib was inserted in the oral cavity of the child on the subsequent visit. The restricted movements of the tongue were seen behind the palatal crib.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Photograph showing one-month follow-up after crib insertion
An anterior open bite was decreased after one month following the insertion of the palatal crib. Deciduous canine is seen as an exfoliation bilaterally.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Photograph showing the three-month follow-up after crib insertion
This figure shows that the anterior open bite has adequately decreased in three months after the palatal crib was inserted. The closure of the anterior open bite was achieved and the canine erupted in normal occlusion bilaterally
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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