Comparison of posterior occlusion between patients with anterior open bite and scissor deep bite

OBJECTIVE: A minor alteration in the posterior occlusal height elicits a large transformation in the anterior vertical dimension. Thus, the present study was performed to determine whether a posterior cusp-to-cusp relation that increases the posterior vertical dimension contributes to an anterior open bite. METHODS: Study casts were examined from orthodontic patients aged 10 to 27 years, 21 with an open bite and 28 with a scissor deep bite. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the contribution of various factors to these two anterior occlusal patterns. The dental arch width and number of worn cusps were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Patients with an open bite had a significantly higher incidence of a posterior buccal–lingual cusp-to-cusp relation, wider mandibular arch in the molar region, and larger numbers of worn maxillary buccal cusps and mandibular lingual cusps than patients with a scissor deep bite. CONCLUSIONS: A posterior buccal–lingual cusp-to-cusp relation is associated with a larger anterior vertical dimension, such as that in patients with an open bite.