Dentoskeletal changes associated with fixed and removable appliances with a crib in open-bite patients in the mixed dentition

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the quad-helix/crib (Q-H/C) appliance and a removable plate with a crib (RP/C) in patients with dentoskeletal open bite. Methods: Both samples consisted of 20 subjects. Lateral cephalograms were analyzed before treatment (T1) and after active treatment (T2). The average age at T1 was 8.4 years, and the mean duration of treatment was 1.5 years in both groups. The T2-T1 changes in the 2 groups were compared with a nonparametric test for independent samples (Mann-Whitney U test). Results and Conclusions: Both the Q-H/C and the RP/C appliances induced favorable dental effects. However, a compliance-free appliance, such as the Q-H/C appliance, produced more favorable vertical skeletal changes.