Comparison between Bionator and Quadhelix/Crib Appliance for Treatment of Anterior Openbite

  • Dr Veronica Giuntini, Department of Orthodontics, University of Florence, Italy
  • Dr Caterina Masucci, Department of Orthodontics, University of Florence, Italy
  • Dr Chiara Pavoni, Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
  • Dr Tiziano Baccetti, Department of Orthodontics, University of Florence, Italy
  • Dr Lorenzo Franchi, Department of Orthodontics, University of Florence, Italy

Aim: To compare the effects of the quad-helix/crib (Q-H/C) appliance and of the open bite Bionator (OBB) in patients with open bite malocclusions.
Materials and Methods: The Q-H/C sample consisted of 21 subjects, 15 females and 6 males. The average age for the Q-H/C group at T1 was 8.4 years ± 1.4 years, the mean age at T2 was 10.9 years ± 1.6 years, and the mean duration of treatment interval was 2.6 years ± 9 months. The OBB sample consisted of 20 subjects, 9 females and 11 males. The average age at T1 was 8.3 years ± 10 months, and it was 10.8 year ± 1.5 years at T2. Mean duration of observation interval was 2.5 years ± 1.2 years. Lateral cephalograms were analyzed prior to the start of treatment and approximately one year after the completion of active treatment. The T2-T1 changes in the 2 groups were compared by means of a non-parametric test for independent samples (Mann-Whitney U Test).
Results: The group treated with the quad-helix/crib appliance showed a significantly greater increase in the overbite (1.9 mm more than the group) that was associated with a significantly greater amount of extrusion of upper incisors (1.5 mm more than the Bionator group). No other statistically significant differences were found.
Conclusion: The comparison between two treatment protocols for skeletal open bite malocclusion revealed that the compliance-free Q-H/C appliance is significantly more effective than the open bite Bionator for the improvement of overbite.