Surgical orthodontic treatment of anterior skeletal open bite using small plate internal fixation. One to five year follow-up.

Thirty-eight patients with skeletal open bite were studied retrospectively to assess stability of surgical-orthodontic treatment when small plate internal fixation was used. 86% of the sample population showed stable clinical results. Follow-up was from 1-5 years. Only 1 patient experienced skeletal relapse (3%) and 5 patients (13%) dento-alveolar relapse. Fifty percent of relapses were due to transverse relapse of orthodontically expanded maxillary arches. No relapse was seen with surgically assisted orthodontic expansion or surgical expansion at the time of osteotomy. Stable results can be achieved in treating skeletal open bite when small plate internal fixation is used and proper consideration given to the cause of skeletal open bite when planning treatment.