Sucking habits and facial hyperdivergency as risk factors for anterior open bite in the mixed dentition

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate sucking habits and hyperdivergency as risk factors for anterior open bite in mixed-dentition subjects. Anamnestic and pretreatment cephalometric records of 1710 mixed-dentition subjects were assessed for sucking habits, dental open bite, and facial hyperdivergency. The rate of anterior open bite was 17.7%. Multiple logistic regression showed that both prolonged sucking habits and hyperdivergent vertical relationships significantly increased the probability of an anterior dentoalveolar open bite, with a prevalence rate of 36.3%. This was 4 times the prevalence of sucking habits and facial hyperdivergency in subjects without anterior open bite (9.1%). Prolonged sucking habits and hyperdivergent facial characteristics are significant risk factors for anterior open bite in the mixed dentition.