Maxillary sinus and alveolar bone levels in subjects with skeletal anterior open bite: Is there room for mini-implant supported molar intrusion?

Abstract

Objective: To compare the maxillary sinus (MS) and alveolar bone (AB) heights in adult subjects with normal occlusion and those with skeletal anterior open bite (AOB). Study Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Period: December 2020 to June 2021. Material & Methods: The study was conducted on the pretreatment orthodontic records of sixty adult subjects (30 males, 30 females). Skeletal high angle cases with AOB >1 mm were included in skeletal AOB while a matched sample with normal dental and skeletal relationships was included in normal occlusion group. The MS and AB heights were measured on lateral cephalograms and orthopantomograms at interdental regions from maxillary 1^st premolar to 2^nd molar. The MS and AB heights were compared between males and females and between skeletal AOB group and normal occlusion groups using independent sample t-test. Results: The mean age of the subjects with skeletal AOB (22.68±4.04 years) and those with normal occlusion (23.19±4.68 years) were comparable (p=0.653). In general, MS height and AB heights were greater in males than females. There was no significant difference in the MS height between the skeletal AOB and normal occlusion groups for both genders (p>0.05). However, both males and females with skeletal AOB had greater AB heights between 2^nd premolar and 1^st molar and between 1^st molar and 2^nd molar than those with normal occlusion (p<0.05). Conclusion: The MS height in skeletal AOB and normal occlusion groups were comparable. Subjects with skeletal AOB had maximum AB height mesially and distally to maxillary 1^st molar that was significantly greater than those with the normal occlusion.