Myofunctional approach for open bite correction in a patient with severe upper incisor external apical root resorption

Abstract

Root resorption is a complication of orthodontic treatment that may occur in various degrees of severity. However, considerable root resorption can also be appreciated in patients where root development has been interrupted by different circumstances during the orthodontic treatment. A 9-year-old female patient was admitted after being in a treatment with fixed appliances for 3 years. She presented clinical features of anterior open bite and the radiographic evaluation showed important root resorption of the four maxillary incisors. It was decided to use a more conservative approach instead of fi xed appliances during the initial phase of treatment and a myofunctional therapy was chosen. Assessment of the upper airways was performed before placing a tongue crib accompanied by exercises of the orbicularis oris muscle complex, after one month of follow-up appointments, bite closure was obtained. Chances of relapse are reduced with appropriate growth guidance and changes in the muscular behavior of young patients.Key words: Open-bite, root resorption, myofunctional therapy, tongue thrust disorder.