Intermaxillary traction with Indirect Bonded Splint for osteoarthritis with open bite: A case report

Abstract

We successfully performed intermaxillary traction using an Indirect Bonded Splint (IBS) to correct an anterior open bite with bilateral condylar resorption.
The patient was a 42-year-old woman who had slight TMJ pain and noticed anterior open bite one year before the first examination. The anterior open bite gradually increased thereafter and the examination showed an overjet of +1.0 mm and overbite of -3.5 mm. Maximal mouth opening was 46 mm. CT showed that the surface of the condyle was flat on both sides, and that the condyle on the left side was erosive and sclerotic. We attached an IBS to the surface of all teeth and intermaxillary traction was performed with elastic bands. After traction for 8 months, the anterior open bite was improved. CT showed that the condylar heads were round with the formation of a cortical layer of the bone.
These results indicate that intermaxillary traction using IBS is a useful conservative treatment for open bite with condylar resorption.