There is weak evidence that the interventions FR-4 with lip-seal training and palatal crib associated with high-pull chincup are able to correct anterior open bite. Given that the trials included have potential bias, these results must be viewed with caution. Recommendations for clinical practice cannot be made based only on the results of these trials. More randomised controlled trials are needed to elucidate the interventions for treating anterior open bite.
The effects of Frankel's function regulator (FR-4) therapy on the treatment of Angle Class I skeletal anterior open bite malocclusion.
The present study attempts to evaluate cephalometrically the effects of Fränkel's function regulator (FR-4) appliance on the treatment of Angle Class I skeletal anterior open bite malocclusion. Forty Turkish children (26 girls and 14 boys), with Angle Class I skeletal anterior open bite, were randomly divided into two groups of 20 (13 girls and 7 boys). Patients who had not undergone treatment served as the control group, whereas a second group was treated with lip-seal training and the FR-4 appliance. Chronologic mean decimal age at initial period of the investigation was 8.7 years in the treated group, and 8.9 years in the control group. Treatment and observation periods were 2 years. Investigation was carried out on lateral cephalograms taken before and after the study period. The results indicate that a spontaneous downward and backward growth direction of the mandible observed in the control group could be changed to a upward and forward direction by FR-4 therapy. The skeletal anterior open bite was successfully corrected through upward and forward mandibular rotation.