Journal of Orthodontics & Endodontics

Introduction

Deep bite is one of the most common malocclusion seen in children as well as adults and is most difficult to treat successfully. Bishara [1] (Glossary) defined Deepbite as Malocclusion in which the mandibular incisor crowns are excessively overlapped vertically by the maxillary incisors when the teeth are in centric occlusion.

Unfavorable sequel of this malocclusion predisposes a patient to periodontal involvement, abnormal function, improper mastication, excessive stresses, trauma, functional problems, bruxism, clenching and temporomandibular joint disturbance make geriatric dental service a losing battle unless overbite can be controlled.

Classification

Deep bite can be classified as dentoalveolar deep bite and skeletal deep bite, true deep bite and pseudo deep bite or incomplete deep bite and complete deep bite [2,3].

Etiology of deep bite

The deep overbite may be caused by inherent or acquired factor [3]:

1) Inherent factors like Tooth morphology, Skeletal pattern and malocclusion, Condylar growth pattern.

2) Acquired factors like Muscular habit, Changes in tooth position, the loss of posterior supporting teeth, Lateral tongue thrust habit.

Diagnosis of deep bite

A deep bite anteriorly could be caused by supraeruption of upper and/or lower incisors or infraeruption of posterior teeth [4]. To evaluate whether infraeruption or supraeruption is present, the orthodontist must use linear measurements from the base of the alveolar process. This can be established by Cephalometric analysis.

Treatment of overbite before overjet

For stability in function and retention it is vital that the deep bite incisor relationship be corrected [5], to establish the proper interincisal relationship of overbite to overjet and inter-incisal angles.

Treatment modalities of deep bite

Methods of deep bite correction:

1) Extrusion of posterior teeth.

2) Intrusion of anterior teeth.

3) Combination of both.

4) Proclination of incisors.

5) Surgical.

Extrusion of posterior teeth

This modality of correction of deep bite is most commonly indicated in horizontal growing patients. The removable appliances such as bite planes, sved bite planes [3,6], modified bite planes, myofunctional appliances such as activator [7], Bionato [2], Functional regulator [8], Twin blocks [9] allow the extrusion of posterior teeth thus opening the bite. Cervical headgears exert a vertically downward component of force of about 200-300 g per side for duration of 14-16 h per day [10]. This creates potential for extrusion of the molars and the deep bite get corrected. Fixed modified Nance appliance, [11] fixed bite plate with glass ionomer cement [12] and bonded bite planes [13] with composite resin (indirect technique) on the palatal aspect of maxillary incisors also can be used for extrusion of posteriors.

Intrusion of Anterior Teeth

Biomechanics of intrusion

For intrusion of teeth the force should pass through centre of resistance so that translation motion takes place without any tipping. Further away the point of force of application from centre of resistance greater is the rotational moment. The possibility of flaring of incisors is more likely to occur specially in class II div 1 than class II div 2.

Optimal intrusive force for anterior intrusion

Optimal force range for intrusion has been a long time controversy. Many researchers [14] such as Reitan, Burstone, Bench, Gugino and Hilgers, Rickett, Liu and Herschleb, Nicolai, Kesling, Proffit, Siatkowski, Karanth and Shetty have suggested various optimal intrusive forces. However an unanimous decision is lacking. The force ranges on an average from 15-20 g for each upper incisor and 10-15 g for each lower incisor. In adults, the forces are to be applied carefully and somewhat towards a lower range [14].

Correction of deep bite with begg’s technique

In Beggs technique there are Bite opening bends to activate arch wires so that they depress the upper and lower anterior teeth in their sockets in order to open up anterior deep bites [15,16]. In conventional Begg’s technique the bite opening bends are given mesial to the molars. This may create a distal tipping of the molars. To overcome this difficulty, various authors have proposed different sites for bite opening bends in the arch wires [17-19].

Correction of deep bite with edgewise

For intrusion of a tooth, along with incisal positioning of the edgewise brackets, a bend is given in an archwire in such a way that the anterior segment of arch wire is made to lie gingivally to the bracket groove [20]. Use of continous archwire for opening the bite, has found to have deleterious effects on the anchorage units. Extra care is needed to prevent these side-effects [21].

Auxillary arch’s such as utility arch, Burstone’s 3 piece intrusion arch [22,23], Mulligan’s intrusive arch [24], K-SIR arch [25], and CIA [26] are various different arches used along with preadjusted edgewise technique to bring about intrusion of the anterior teeth.

Correction of deep bite with lingual orthodontic.

The distance in the sagittal plane between a lingual bracket and the Cr is much shorter than between a buccal bracket [27] and the Cr (Figure 1). Therefore, pure intrusion movement in LO (lingual orthodontic) will be closer to bodily movement than in Buccal Orthodontics (BO).

Figure 1 (A) Comparison between buccal and lingual brackets in the sagittal plane. (B) Comparison between buccal and lingual brackets in the vertical plane.

Correction of deep bite with mini screw anchorage system

To intrude the upper incisors, the best placement of mini-screw is between the upper lateral incisors and the canines [28]. The placement of the mini-screws should be done after levelling and alignment, in order to maximize the interradicular space at the placement site. In order to avoid tipping the upper incisors buccally during the intrusion, the end of the arch wire is cinched back.

Correction of deep bite with magnets

Magnets used in orthodontic are Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) magnets or aluminium-nickel-cobalt (AlNiCo) magnets. Samarium cobalt magnets are used more over aluminium-nickel-cobalt for their superior properties [29]. They are used on buccal as well as lingual or palatal side, but commonly used on buccal side in attractive mode. The force generated may average 120 g, which may be controlled by operator by adjustment of the air gaps. Less air gaps between the magnets generate more force (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Attracting magnets for bite opening.

Correction of deep bite with orthodontics and surgery

An adult who has more than 6 mm overbite or 8 mm of overjet could be considered a candidate for surgery solely on the basis of dental relationships [30], without even considering facial esthetics.

The surgical treatment options in deep bite patients are [29]:

1) Orthodontics and interpositional genioplasty.

2) Orthodontics and Inferior onlay mandibuloplasty.

3) Orthodontics and mandibular advancement.

4) Orthodontics and total subapical mandibular advancement.

5) Orthodontics and inferior repositioning of maxilla and mandibular advancement.

6) Orthodontics and combined maxillary and mandibular surgery.

Intrusion and apical root resorption

Apical root resorption after intrusion depends to a large extent on the anatomical environment of the root. In young patients, apex is often surrounded by spongy bone and long marrow spaces. A light continuous force, such as that obtained in the light wire technique has proved to be favorable for intrusion of teeth in young patients. If the bone of the apical region is fairly compact, as it is in some adults, a light interrupted force may be preferable. If a definitely light force is exerted for a period of five to six weeks, there is less tendency to root resorption during the later period of intrusion [4,31,32].

Summary and Conclusion

Deep bite is a malocclusion that occurs in the vertical plane of space. Some degree of vertical overlapping or overbite is a normal feature of human dentition. However, some patients present with excessive overbite termed as deep bite or deep overbite. The deep bite in the permanent dentition may be caused by inherent factors or factors acquired during the life of that dentition.

A successful treatment of deep bite requires a careful analysis of the factors contributing the problems. During the treatment planning, considerations should be given to the soft tissue, skeletal pattern, stability, occlusal plane, interocclusal space, treatment time and age of the patient.

It is widely accepted that correction of deep bite is both easier to accomplish and more stable when it is performed on growing patients than when it is attempted on those with no appreciable growth remaining. Adults often need only correction of excessive overbite either due to its isolated nature or a demand for limited treatment. In adults, this treatment is often part of periodontal, restorative and/or temporomandibular joint therapy.

Deep overbite can be corrected by many ways like intrusion of anteriors, extrusion of posteriors, combination of anterior intrusion and posterior extrusion, proclinating anteriors or surgically. However, it should be decided which method will be more beneficial or which will improve the patients facial appearance and functional efficacy.

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