Closing the Gap: High Acceptance Rates for Adult Anterior Open Bite Treatments

• Publications Highlights

Authors: Greenlee GM, Lewandowski L, Funkhouser E, Dolce C, Jolley C, Kau CH, Shin K, Allareddy V, Vermette M, Huang GJ, and the National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group

Anterior open bites present significant challenges in dental practice, affecting both aesthetics and function. A new publication titled “Treatment acceptance in adult patients with anterior open bite: A National Dental Practice-Based Research Network study” provides insights into how adult patients respond to various treatment options for anterior open bite.

Study Overview

This publication is part of the PBRN study “Anterior Openbite Malocclusions in Adults: Recommendations, Treatment, and Stability.” The prospective, observational cohort study involved 345 adult patients treated by 91 orthodontic providers across the United States. The current publication  aimed to investigate the factors influencing patients’ acceptance of the treatment plans recommended by their orthodontic providers for anterior open bite, considering patient demographics, treatment goals, and dentofacial characteristics.

Key Conclusions

1. High Overall Acceptance: The study found that the majority of patients (78%) accepted the most highly recommended treatment plans.
2. Recommended Treatment Plans: Practitioners most commonly recommended fixed orthodontic appliances (42%), and orthognathic surgery (37%) for severe cases. Temporary anchorage devices (TADS) and aligners were recommended less frequently (10%).
3. Influence of Prior Orthodontic Treatment: Patients with a history of prior orthodontic treatment were more likely to accept the most highly recommended plans.
4. Impact of Insurance Coverage: Patients with insurance coverage were more likely to accept surgical treatment options.
5. Patient Concerns and Declines: The most common reasons for declining recommended treatment plans were concerns about the invasiveness, risk, and cost of jaw surgery.

The study highlights the high acceptance of most recommended treatment plans by adult patients with anterior open bite. Prior orthodontic treatment and insurance coverage significantly boosted acceptance rates, while concerns about invasiveness, risk, and cost were common reasons for declining treatment.

For more information, you can access the full article here.

Study protocol and other publications available on our website.