Prevalence Of Anterior Open Bite And Associated Factors: 5years Retrospect

To determine the prevalence of Anterior Open Bite (AOB) and factors associated with it.

Method:

A retrospective study on the prevalence of anterior open bite and the factors associated with the anomaly in patients who have attended the orthodontic unit of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos. 600 patients (which included preschoolers, middle years as well as adults), who presented to the clinic between January 2009 and December 2013, were selected through convenience sampling method. Data was obtained from patients’ case notes and analysed using Epi Info 3.5.1 statistical software.

Result:

The mean age at presentation of patients in this study was 17.2 years; majority of the patients who had anterior open bite presented into the clinic within the age range of 18 and above.  

The prevalence of Anterior open bite in the study population was 13.8%; occurring more commonly among females with 71.1% (p value= 0.011).

The majority of participants with AOB had Angle’s class I malocclusion (72.3%) and skeletal pattern I (59.0%). Most of the patients 69.9% who had anterior open bite had a lisp.

Habits recorded include: Pacifier sucking, digit sucking, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking and tongue sucking. Tongue thrusting was the most common habit recorded amongst patients with anterior open bite (41%) in this study.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of anterior open bite in this study was 13.8% which is similar to other national studies.

It also demonstrates that oral habits are associated with the occurrence of anterior open bite with tongue thrusting exhibiting the highest frequency in this study. Many of the patients in this study presented in adulthood.