title: Sucking habits and facial hyperdivergency as risk factors for anterior open bite in the mixed dentition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate sucking habits and hyperdivergency as risk factors for anterior open bite in mixed-dentition subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anamnestic and pretreatment cephalometric records of 1710 mixed-dentition subjects were assessed for sucking habits, dental open bite, and facial hyperdivergency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of anterior open bite was 17.7%. Multiple logistic regression showed that both prolonged sucking habits and hyperdivergent vertical relationships significantly increased the probability of an anterior dentoalveolar open bite, with a prevalence rate of 36.3%. This was 4 times the prevalence of sucking habits and facial hyperdivergency in subjects without anterior open bite (9.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolonged sucking habits and hyperdivergent facial characteristics are significant risk factors for anterior open bite in the mixed dentition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cozza
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baccetti
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mucedero
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polimeni
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024343:Open Bite / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014716:Vertical Dimension