title: Anterior open bite: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the influence of sucking habits and facial pattern measurements on the development of anterior open bite (AOB).
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was carried out on 60 children aged 7 and 8 years attending municipal public schools in the city of Recife, Brazil. Data collection included interviews with guardians, oral examinations, and facial growth pattern analysis using cephalometric radiographs. The following cephalometric measurements were assessed: SN.Gn, SN.GoGn, FMA, and Facial Axis. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student's t-test and Pearson's chi-square test at a 5% level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of children with sucking habits in the case group was much higher than in the control group (53.3%vs 16.7%) (P = 0.003). Children with sucking habits were six times more likely to develop AOB. Regarding the measurements assessed, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found no evidence that variations in cephalometric angles (SN.Gn, FMA, SN.GoGn, and facial axis) are risk factors for AOB. Only sucking habits demonstrated a positive correlation with an increased AOB.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry of Pernambuco State University, Brazil. monica@heimer.com.br
authors.forename: Mônica Vilela
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Heimer
authors.forename: Cíntia Regina Tornisiello
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Aronita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenblatt
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D024343:Open Bite / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009915:Orbit / Q000473:pathology; D041361:Pacifiers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000473:pathology; D019291:Skull Base / Q000473:pathology