CASE REPORT Fig. 5 "After months of straight wire archwire sequence of wires, powerchains were used to close the spaces between all teeth. After one year the habit breaking appliance was removed and the archwire sequence was continued until all spacing was closed and the open bite corrected." Fig. 6 Fig. 8 Fig. 7 some individuals this shift does not naturally occur due to several causes previously listed. The absence of proper habitual nasal breathing and the presence of hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids are two of the most important factors. 5 The presence of an anterior tongue thrust is linked to an anterior open bite and/or an excessive overjet. 3, 4, 6, 7 When we consider that we swallow a total of 1,200 to 2,000 times every 24 hours with about four pounds of pressure per swallow we can begin to see how this constant pressure from the tongue will force teeth out of alignment and cause an open bite. Correction of the tongue thrust will be vital to long term stability and correction of any orthodontic treatment. The present case report describes treatment rendered to a thirty-three year old African American female with a complete adult dentition, a Class II malocclusion with an anterior open bite and upper and lower spacing of 2 to 3 mm. 36 September/October 2013 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society September-October 2013: Page 36
