The Effectiveness of Aligners in the Treatment of Anterior Open Bite in Adult Patients: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal

Abstract

An anterior open bite is a dental malocclusion, the diagnosis of which is fundamental for its treatment. With the evolution of artificial intelligence, it is possible to treat it through the Invisalign G4 protocol, depending on the degree of severity. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review, based on the PICO strategy, to evaluate the effectiveness of aligners and accessory devices in adult patients with anterior open bites. The search was carried out in the following databases for publications over the last ten years: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and LILACS. The inclusion criteria were clinical studies evaluating adults with anterior open bites (overbites < 0 mm) and orthodontic studies with aligners. The exclusion criteria were studies of cases with dentofacial deformities, previous orthodontic treatment, history of surgery/trauma, or systemic diseases that affect craniofacial growth, as well as animal studies, reviews, and clinical cases. The selection was carried out separately by two researchers. In the four databases, 108 articles were obtained. By reviewing the titles and abstracts and applying the exclusion criteria, 91 articles were eliminated. The seven resulting articles were submitted to the inclusion criteria, two of which were excluded due to their lack of patients presenting an open bite and the absence of aligner treatment. According to the PRISMA method, five studies were selected. The collected data showed an increase in overbites with the use of aligners. The bias assessment was performed with the ROBINS-I tool, indicating a moderate risk of bias. The included studies demonstrated the effectiveness of aligners in the treatment of adults with mild or moderate open bites; however, due to the lack of scientific evidence, it is necessary to carry out randomized studies with the same standardized variables.