Comparison of the effects of passive posterior bite-blocks with different construction bites on the craniofacial and dentoalveolar structures.
Posterior bite-blocks that are used in the early treatment of skeletal open bite, produce a forward and upward mandibular rotation by transmitting the masticatory muscle forces to the buccal dentoalveolar regions and preventing their vertical growth. Increasing the vertical dimension of the face artificially causes skeletal adaptations to occur not only in the dentoalveolar region but also in the other regions of the craniofacial complex. The affects of passive posterior bite-blocks, constructed in two different heights, were investigated for two treatment groups, in comparison to an untreated control group. Two treatment groups comprised of 25 growing patients, who had skeletal open bite and skeletal/dental Class I or Class II malocclusions, and one control group consisting of 14 growing patients were used. These groups were matched concerning their age, sex, and vertical and sagittal skeletal cephalometric and dental characteristics. Passive posterior bite-blocks of 5 and 10 mm heights were applied to the subjects of the treatment groups respectively for 18 hours per day. Untreated control subjects were observed for 7 to 9 months. The findings of this study revealed that the downward and backward mandibular rotation continued in the control group, increasing the lower facial height significantly, whereas in the treatment groups, the skeletal open bite was treated and the mandible rotated upward and forward. The increase of the height of the posterior bite-blocks had a significant effect on the anterior mandibular rotation and in the increase of the gonial angle.