Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), prospective and retrospective studies with concurrent untreated and normal controls, and clinical trials that compared at least two treatment strategies without any untreated or normal controls were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies of early treatment of open-bite malocclusions were eligible for inclusion. The treatment modality varied across studies and included functional appliances (in association with high pull head gear, or with high pull head gear and vertical cup chin) and bite-block therapy (posterior bite block alone or in combination with vertical cup chin, spring-loaded bite block and magnetic bite block).
Participants included in the review
Participants who had open-bite malocclusion in the mixed dentition developmental stage were eligible for inclusion. No further details of the participants were reported.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The studies had to report on treatment effect to be eligible for inclusion. The outcomes reported were success rate, reduction of open bite and divergency, side-effects and stability. They were measured using cephalometric analysis, study casts with and without photos, electromyography, and pre- and post-treatment.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.