Orofacial Exercises as a Preventive Measure for Anterior Open Bite in 8–10-Year-Old School Children: A Non-Randomized Controlled Study

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.