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Schütz-Fransson U, Bjerklin K et al. Eur J Orthod 2006; 28: 503–512

Overbite correction may relapse, and this may be correlated with factors such as protrusion of the mandibular anterior segment and subsequent development of the jaws. In this study, 30 patients treated for an overbite of 4.5 mm or more were compared with 32 normal control subjects.

Most patients had Class II malocclusion, 23 were treated with edgewise appliances and 7 with Andresen activators. No extractions were made, and 7 patients received no retention. Subjects were assessed at mean ages 12 yrs (pre-treatment), 15 (post), 19 and 26, and controls at 9, 14, 21 and 31.

Treatment reduced overbite from a mean 5.8 to 2.8 mm. Mean bite relapse in patients was 0.8 mm at the 4th assessment, but overbite was still within the normal range, while overbite in controls reduced by 0.7 mm. Mandibular incisor space also reduced slightly. There were modest differences between groups, but the authors concluded that treatment results were stable.