The effectiveness of anterior unilateral bite turbos in correcting incisal plane cant and asymmetric overbite: a prospective clinical study

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of anterior unilateral bite turbos (AUBTs) in correcting incisal plane cant and asymmetric overbite in orthodontic patients. A prospective study was conducted on 40 orthodontic patients (4 males, 36 females) undergoing fixed appliance treatment in a private practice setting. Subjects presented with either primary or iatrogenic incisal plane cants and received AUBT placement on the upper canine or lateral incisor of the more pronounced overbite side. Digital photographic analysis was used to measure changes in cant parameters at baseline (T0), pre-AUBT placement (T1), and post-treatment (T2). Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Results indicated that AUBTs significantly reduced incisal plane cant across all groups, with the primary group showing a greater overall improvement compared to the iatrogenic group. The lower incisal plane and gingival margin exhibited more significant cant correction than the upper ones. Patients adapted well to the appliances, with minimal debonding failures and no significant changes in temporomandibular function. This study supports the use of AUBTs as a minimally invasive, cost-effective alternative for incisal plane cant asymmetric overbite correction. Future research should explore long-term stability and comparative effectiveness with other cant correction modalities.