Glossectomy as an adjunct to correct an open-bite malocclusion with shortened maxillary central incisor roots

Abstract

A young man, 19 years of age, with the chief complaint of an anterior open bite, came for orthodontic treatmentwith a skeletal Class I relationship, anterior open bite, shortened maxillary incisor roots, and relative macroglossia. The malocclusion was treated by extracting the maxillary first premolars and using a fixed edgewise appliance. A partial glossectomy was performed before the orthognathic surgery with a 3-piece segmental LeFort I mandibular setback, and advancement was achieved with a reduction genioplasty. Afunctional and esthetic occlusion with an improved facial profile was established, and the apex of the maxillaryleft central incisor became slightly rounded after prolonged and significant tooth movement. Fouryearsaftertreatment, there was occlusal stability of the results, and no further root shortening was observed.