Malocclusions happen when teeth don’t align correctly from front to back. Typically, our front upper teeth overlap the lower teeth a little bit (the edge of the upper incisors overlaps the lower incisors by ⅓) . In the case of an open bite, a type of malocclusion, the front upper and lower teeth don’t align. Even when the mouth is closed they’re not touching, thus, creating a visible gap between the top and bottom teeth.
When the back teeth don’t connect yet the front teeth fit together.
Nowadays, few people have a flawless bite, even with all the existing methods to fix it. Sometimes the issue is so slight and doesn't bring any discomfort, people prefer to ignore it. Yet, an open bite issue can cause enough inconveniences, so it’s better to consider fixing it.
A slight open bite might be unnoticeable for other people, but quite obvious for the person having it. While more serious cases of an open bite are visually noticeable.
There are a few general signs of an open bite:
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Open bite often initiates in childhood, due to certain habits. It’s crucial to notice it as early as possible to begin treatment. There are a few main causes of an open bite.
The sucking habit is normal for babies, it’s an instinct. Yet if not eliminated by the age of 2-3, it becomes a harmful habit. Sucking a thumb or a pacifier creates unnecessary pressure on the front teeth, leading to misalignment. The good news is treatment is easier in childhood.
When the teeth haven’t changed to permanent, there’s a great chance to enter adolescence with a normal bite. So, the key is to wean a child from excessive sucking habits earlier to avoid an open bite.
If skeletal issues occur, the root of the problem might be jaw development. Sometimes jaws are growing apart, instead of growing parallel to each other. Another genetic issue is when teeth don’t erupt fully and grow in an open bite.
The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw with the skull, enabling speaking, eating, and moving the jaws. Sometimes, due to stress, traumas, teeth grinding, etc, TMJ disorders occur. It causes chronic jaw pain, and in an attempt to place the jaw comfortably, people may push the teeth forward with the tongue. Thus, causing an open bite.
Any kind of trauma that affects the jaws can trigger malocclusion, including an open bite. That’s why jaw misalignments should be treated immediately, to avoid problems with teeth alignment and bite.
Bad tongue posture and associated habits also contribute to malocclusions like an open bite. For example, mouth breathing almost inevitably leads to malocclusion, due to a recessed maxilla and narrowed jaws. When your tongue is in an improper position constantly, it affects the teeth' alignment and causes bite issues.
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Tongue thrusting means pushing your tongue against the front teeth. According to Pedrazzi on PubMed, tongue thrust is involved in almost all open bite cases. Moreover, the tongue is the “progenitor of open bites”. When thrusting, it creates more and more space between the top and bottom teeth. If not treated sooner, tongue thrust can lead to a severe case of an open bite that takes a long time to correct. Excessive tongue thrusting may also create gaps between the teeth.
An open bite is not just about face aesthetics, but also about health. The earlier you start fixing an open bite, the sooner you’ll be thankful for doing it.
There are a few main reasons why you should fix an open bite.
Orthodontic open bite treatment methods include:
Braces are a traditional and proven effective way to treat malocclusions. You can pick braces material (metal, ceramic) and your orthodontist makes up a treatment plan. The treatment period depends on the severity of the open bite case. With adults, it usually takes a bit more time, since the skeletal tissue is already developed.
Invisalign is a popular brand creating modern braces alternatives. Clear aligners like Invisalign come in a form of transparent aligners that are almost invisible when wearing. For those who feel uncomfortable wearing braces, Invisalign is a perfect option. They’ve proved to be as effective in treating bite issues, and aesthetically appealing at the same time.
Screws are usually applied with braces. An orthodontist drills these metal appliances into the jaw and puts rubber bands on them. The other part of the rubber band is attached to the braces. Thus, the bands force the teeth to move down and back, slowly closing an open bite.
As you may guess from the name, retainers are appliances that retain the teeth and bite in the proper position. They are attached after braces or aligners to make sure the open bite doesn’t come back and the teeth are in place.
Retainers can be:
An open bite jaw surgery is applied when other methods aren’t likely to be effective enough. It happens with severe open bite cases. An oral surgeon performs surgery, then after recovery, an orthodontist proceeds with treatment.
Tongue spurs are appliances designed to eliminate the habit of tongue thrusting. Spurs come in form of little metal appliances, attached to the back side of the top front teeth. They make tongue thrusting that causes open bites, uncomfortable. The spurs don’t hurt, but prevent from pushing the tongue onto the teeth.
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One of the great ways to fix an open bite naturally is behavior change, i.e. altering your oral habits. The earlier, the better, so if you notice your kid (2+ years old) sucking a thumb, a pacifier, or tongue thrusting, it’s time to get rid of these habits. It’s best to start forming the right habits since childhood.
Natural ways to fix an open bite, and other types of malocclusions are more preventative than curing. Complex cases of open bite demand professional treatment, yet proper oral habits will make this path smoother.
First of all, it’s crucial to eliminate the triggering habits of an open bite:
Then it’s great to implement healthy habits to improve an open bite issue.
If you have an open bite and still hesitate to treat it, let the results of others inspire you. Many people and doctors share the successful results of an open bite treatment. They show even the most severe open bite cases can be corrected.
Take a look at impressive before&after shots of an open bite treatment.
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