Background/Objectives: Anterior open bite (AOB) is a multifactorial malocclusion often associated with dysfunctional orofacial habits, such as tongue thrusting and lip incompetence. Early functional interventions aim to restore muscular balance; however, evidence supporting orofacial exercise therapy as a preventive measure remains limited. This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of targeted orofacial physical exercises in reducing anterior open bite and improving tongue and lip function in school-aged children. Methods: A controlled clinical trial was conducted following ethical approval (COD-EC-24-0036). A total of 1531 children were screened, of whom 24 presented with AOB; 14 consented to participate. Participants were allocated to a tongue exercise group, a lip exercise group, or a control group receiving verbal advice only. Orofacial exercises focused on tongue posture, swallowing function, and lip seal. Measurements were obtained at baseline and 6 months using intraoral scans and clinical assessments. Treatment adherence was monitored using monthly exercise charts. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results: AOB prevalence among screened children was 1.57%. Descriptive analysis showed that both intervention groups demonstrated numerical reductions in anterior open bite over 6 months, whereas minimal changes were observed in the control group. However, no statistically significant differences were detected between groups (p > 0.05). Children with higher cooperation exhibited greater improvement, suggesting adherence may influence treatment response. Conclusions: Orofacial physical exercises demonstrated a trend toward improving anterior open bite and orofacial function; however, changes were not statistically significant. These exercises may serve as supportive early therapeutic management, but larger, adequately powered trials are needed to clarify their therapeutic potential.
Omer et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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