Open Bite and Atypical Swallowing: Orthodontic Treatment, Speech Therapy or Both? A Literature Review
European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
Cenzato, N., Iannotti, L., et al. (2021).
European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 22(4), 286-290.
This systematic review investigates the impact of orthodontic treatment, orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), and a combination of orthodontic treatment and OMT on anterior open bites with abnormal swallow and/or related speech differences under children aged 12 or below.
Not stated
Not specified
Clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and case reports
9
<div>Orthodontic treatment in combination with OMT improved anterior open bite with tongue interposition between the arches in children, aged 12 and under. Combined orthodontic treatment and OMT increased the potential for treatment stability, allowing for the re-training of maladaptive behaviors to prevent recurrence while also clinically resolving the open bite. When used in isolation:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Orthodontic treatment eliminated tongue interference in the open bite space allowing for the correction of the anterior open bite and skeletal problem; however, it did not resolve the maladaptive behaviors and increased the risk for recurrence.</li>
<li>OMT positively influenced tongue behavior both at rest and during swallowing with partial reduction in anterior open bite. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>Limitations of this review include the small number of studies, the varying methodology, and the predominately small sample sizes. Additional research is needed to investigate the efficacy of combining treatments in children with anterior open bites resulting in abnormal swallow and/or related speech differences.</div>
