Treatment and posttreatment changes following intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth with miniscrew implants for open bite correction

Objective: This study investigated the skeletal and dentoalveolar changes after intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth using miniscrew implants during the treatment and posttreatment period. Method: The subjects consisted of 11 adults (1 male, 10 females) whose open bites were treated by posterior teeth intrusion with miniscrew. The lateral cephalometric x-rays of pre-treatment, post-treatment, and the retention period were evaluated. Results: The average intrusion of maxillary posterior teeth at the end of the treatment period was 2.22 mm (p < 0.001) and the average extrusion of maxillary posterior teeth at the end of the 17.4 month retention period was 0.23 mm (p = 0.359). The relapse rate was calculated at 10.36%. A decrease in overbite after the 17.4 month retention period was 0.99 mm (p < 0.05). The relapse rate was calculated at 18.10%. The skeletal changes and vertical height change of maxillary posterior teeth during the retention period was statistically insignificant, but there was a significant decrease in overbite (mean 0.99 mm, p < 0.05). The amount of intrusion and the overbite improvement from treatment significantly correlates to the degree of relapse. Conclusions: The results indicate that intrusion of the maxillary posterior teeth using miniscrews is an effective, non-surgical treatment modality which can reasonably be used to address adult open bite.