Overbite Correction and Smile Esthetics

The purpose of this prospective clinical study was to investigate differences in outcomes from two common treatment modalities used to reduce deep overbite: maxillary incisor intrusion using an intrusion arch and posterior tooth eruption using an anterior bite plate and to assess their influence on smile esthetics. Pre-treatment and post-overbite correction records were gathered from 40 patients with deep overbite malocclusions at the Virginia Commonwealth University orthodontic clinic. Intrusion arch patients displayed significant reductions in maxillary incisor display accompanying documented incisor intrusion. Bite plate patients showed significant lower incisor intrusion and increases in the mandibular plane angle. When compared to the bite plate group, there was a greater tendency for flattening of the smile arc seen in the intrusion arch group. Changes in the smile arc were likely partially a result of the mechanics used but may also have been due to other factors involved in orthodontic tooth alignment