If you have an open bite, you may be wondering what your treatment options are and how they are used to fix the issue. In today's post, our Langley orthodontists share 3 effective solutions that can help resolve an open bite issue and fix your smile.
Understanding Open Bite & Its Causes
When your permanent teeth teeth are properly aligned, the upper teeth fit comfortably just over the lower teeth when the mouth is closed. But, with an open bite, some of the upper and lower teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed.
An open bite is one form of a malocclusion or tooth misalignment. Malocclusions are common and open bites are particularly difficult to live with, as they can have a serious negative impact on routine activities like chewing, speaking, and caring for your teeth and gums.
Many types of malocclusion, including an open bite, are often due to genetics or hereditary issues that affect the jaw, mouth, or bite. An open bite can also be developed because of missing teeth, injury, and bad childhood habits like thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting.
Exploring Types of Open Bites
Anterior Open Bite
An anterior open bite is when the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap when biting down. This creates a gap between the teeth even when the jaws are in a closed position. This seriously affects your smile, making it quite challenging to consume certain foods. Additionally, it can cause you to have difficulty speaking or give you a lisp.
Posterior Open Bite
A posterior open bite is when the back teeth do not make contact while biting down. However, in this scenario, the front teeth will come in contact with each other. Due to the lack of proper contact between the back teeth, if you have a posterior open bite, you may also have trouble chewing your food as well as pronouncing certain words.
How to Fix an Open Bite: Effective Bite Treatment Options
If you're wondering how to fix an open bite, our Langley orthodontists would like to share 3 treatment options that can successfully resolve the issue.
Braces
Braces are probably the most commonly used method of treating malocclusions, including open bites. This involves placing brackets on the teeth, in which metal wires are passed through to move the teeth into the desired position. The wires are tightened every few months or so until the teeth and jaw are where they need to be, fixing the open bite.
Invisalign Clear Aligners
Invisalign clear aligners are transparent, custom-made removable trays that apply gentle, continuous pressure to guide teeth into their ideal position (similar to how braces work). The treatment involves a series of aligners designed to gradually move the teeth into place. Aligners offer a convenient orthodontic treatment option to improve the open bite, not only by being removable for when you eat, drink, brush, and floss, but they are also much more discrete than braces and most people may not be able to tell when you are wearing them.
Surgery
An open bite caused by skeletal issues of the jaw bone will need to be corrected with jaw surgery. Braces or clear aligners alone will not be able to fix this type of bite in most cases. Jaw surgery will likely need to be followed up with braces or clear aligners to ensure the position of the teeth don't resort back to their original position.