Abstract:
This study has the objective to analyze, in a scholarship sample, the
correlation between the facial pattern and the anterior open bite. The sample used in
this study was composed by 1,006 Brazilian children among 9 and 13 years of age.
The mean age was 10.85 years (s.d. = 1.04). The children selected was in mixed or
young permanent dentition stage, and the exclusion criteria was the presence of tipto-
tip anterior bite, supernumerary teeth, and any previous orthodontic treatment. The
material in this study consisted of extraoral photographs and the clinical evaluation of
the anterior open bite and posterior crossbite. The prevalences were determined by
percentage, and the sexual dimorphism and the relation between the open bite,
crossbite and the facial patterns were evaluated by chi-square tests. It can be
concluded that the prevalence of anterior open bite was 20.97%, posterior crossbite
was 25.05%, and the facial patterns: 25.15% for dolicofacial, 63.72% for mesofacial
and 11.13% for brachifacial. There was not sexual dimorphism for the prevalence of
these malocclusions. The dolicofacial pattern is related to a greater prevalence of
anterior open bite and posterior crossbite.
