Published on March 20, 2022, Updated on March 23, 2022

When the mouth is closed, those who have an open bite have front upper and lower teeth that slant outward and do not make contact. This bite may make eating some dishes difficult, if not impossible.

What Is Open Bite? | What Causes Open Bites? | Types of Openbites | What issues does Openbite cause? | Treatment for Over Bite Teeth

What is Open Bite?

An open bite is a type of malocclusion in which the top and bottom parts of the mouth do not shut together. When a person shuts his or her mouth, this results in a gap between the rows of it. An open bite might limit communication and cause a person’s smile. Learn more about fixing open bite with clear aligners and open bite correction with braces.

What Causes Open Bites?

In rare situations, an open bite is caused by a problem with the jawbone. When children have a combination of primary and permanent teeth, they generally experience this malocclusion. Primary teeth cannot be aligned appropriately until all primary teeth have been gone; thus, the malocclusion.

Additionally, this condition might be influenced by habits. Tongue thrusting may result in an open bite when the tongue is driven into it while swallowing or speaking. Tongue thrusting is a normal condition in childhood, and the majority of children outgrow it. They may have problems with their speech and bite if they do not.

Additionally, habits like as biting on foreign things or thumb sucking contribute to this condition. Inappropriate use of a baby bottle or pacifier might exacerbate this condition as well.

Types of Open Bite Malocclusion

There are different types of open bites. The following are the most common:

Anterior Open Bite

This happens when the lower and upper jaws’ front teeth do not overlap during a full bite. Typically, it affects all of the front teeth, although rarely just a few of them. Typically, treatment is necessary to recover whole ripping and biting powers.

Posterior Open Bite

This type emerges when the back teeth are not in contact with one another, the polar opposite of the anterior type. When the patient bites down, the back teeth do not come into contact with one another. Typically, treatment is necessary to restore chewing function in the premolars and molars.

Dental Open Bite

This occurs when a tooth is unable to fully erupt through the jawbone and gum.

Skeletal Open Bite

Typically, this type is defined by a genetic problem culminating in aberrant facial development. It results in aberrant development of the molars of the upper and lower jawbones. Read about teeth grinding, bruxism.

What issues does Openbite cause?

This condition can cause the following:

  • Poor self esteem
  • Problems biting
  • Speech difficulties
  • Damage and wear to back teeth
  • Inability to chew, which is more prevalent in posterior types
  • temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)

Treatment for Open Bite Teeth

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), an open bite may quickly be rectified through orthodontic therapy. However, treating this condition is more challenging than treating any other type of malocclusion. If the condition is caused by the presence of both baby and permanent teeth, it may resolve on its own. Oral Health Center Dental Care Westerville can aid in establishing what causes an open bite and how to heal it. Check out the reviews of the patient of Dr. Banga DMD.

If the malocclusion is caused by a misaligned jawbone, orthognathic surgery is necessary. This surgery includes excising a section of the upper jaw and realigning the jawbones in type to better align the teeth. Treatment depends upon the severity of the dental injury.

Orthodontic devices may be utilized to aid a patient in fixing a bite opening. If tongue thrusting is a problem, orthodontic appliances may be used to prevent the tongue from pushing through. Additionally, a particular headgear may be employed to aid in placing the jaw and correcting the bite. Invisalign aligners can treat open bites, read more about correcting open bite  with invisible braces.

If the major teeth grow in the same open bite pattern as the baby teeth, orthodontists will recommend wearing fitting braces to correct the teeth.

A combination of braces and behavior modification is generally advised for patients with a fully formed permanent set.

Treatment treatments for an open bite differ depending on on the severity of the condition. Adults frequently require surgery, although children and adolescents benefit from orthodontic appliances.

An open bite is treated regardless of age, whether it happens in a child, teenager, or adult. However, it is easier if the teeth have not totally formed.

For larger gaps between teeth and gaps accompanied by other misalignment problems (e.g., Overbite , underbite), orthodontic treatment may be needed to reposition the teeth.

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