Severe lateral open bite caused by multiple ankylosed teeth: a case report.

Multiple ankylosed teeth in a dental arch is rare and occasionally causes severe open bite. This article describes a case of severe lateral open bite caused by multiple ankylosed teeth. The patient was a 31-year-old female and her chief complaint was inadequate masticatory function on the right side. All the maxillary right teeth exhibited infraocclusion. The maxillary right first molar showed partial impaction and the maxillary and mandibular right second molars were completely impacted, although on the left side these teeth had fully erupted. CT images revealed unclear periodontal space between the alveolar bone and roots of the maxillary teeth from the incisor to the first molar on the right. To improve the masticatory function, a removable prosthetic appliance was applied to the maxillary arch. Prosthetic rehabilitation may be an effective alternative to surgical procedures such as distraction osteogenesis of the alveolar bone and subluxation of the ankylosed teeth.