TREATMENT AND 8-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF A CLASS II OPEN BITE PATIENT – CASE REPORT

Aim: the aim of this case report is to present the treatment and its 8-year follow-up of a patient who has class ii skeletal malocclusion with mild open bite. case and method: an 11-year-old female patient’s chief complaint was crowding. according to the intraoral examination, the patient had class ii canine and molar relationships on both sides. overjet and overbite were found to be 4 mm and -2 mm respectively. according to cephalometric analysis she had normal vertical growth pattern, skeletal class ii relationship due to the small mandible, with proclined upper and lower incisors. in order to distalize the upper molars cervical headgear was used, and to prevent extrusion of molars high-pull headgear was combined. after achieving class i molar relationship, fixed treatment was initiated. after leveling and aligning, reverse curve archwire was placed in the lower arch and anterior elastics were used. at the end of the treatment fixed retainers were bonded and the patient was instructed to use positioner for the night time. in order to observe the long term results of the treatment, patient was re-called after eight years and records were renewed. results: occlusion was improved both functionally and esthetically. class i dental relationship and ideal overjet/overbite were achieved. dental relationships and the amount of overjet were maintained after eight years whereas, a decrease was observed in overbite. conclusion: attainment of proper overjet, overbite and interdigitation makes a big contribution to longterm clinical success. however, more care is required for stability and retention in patients with openbite tendency.