Abstract
Anterior open bite has multiple aetiologies, but can be broadly described as being dental or skeletal in origin. Accurate differentiation is essential in determining the appropriate treatment plan: dental open bites may close spontaneously in the growing patient and are generally amenable to orthodontic treatment, whereas skeletal open bites frequently worsen with growth and usually require a combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. The incidence of post-treatment relapse is high, making these malocclusions a challenge to treat successfully.