What is an open bite?
An open bite is when the upper front teeth and lower front teeth do not touch when you bite together, so only the back teeth meet and there is a space between the front teeth. The front teeth cannot bite into or tear food the way they should.
An open bite can come from the position of the teeth, from the way the jaws have grown, or both, and the difference guides the treatment. Our Orthodontic Issues We Treat page lists it with the other bite problems we treat.
What causes an open bite?
Prolonged thumb sucking, pacifier use or tongue thrusting are the most common causes, because the pressure holds the front teeth apart while they are coming in. The way the jaws grow can also play a part.
Most children stop sucking their thumb between the ages of 2 and 4, but if the habit continues beyond age 5 or 6, when the permanent teeth begin to come in, it can start to cause orthodontic problems. A tongue that rests between the teeth, or an open mouth posture, is also something we look for at a child’s first visit. Read Does Your Child Suck Their Thumb? What Parents Should Know and Why Is My Child Seeing an Orthodontist If They Still Have Baby Teeth?.
Why should an open bite be treated?
An open bite can cause severe wear on the back teeth, because they do all the work of chewing. It also interferes with speaking and chewing, may contribute to jaw discomfort or TMJ symptoms, and affects the overall balance of the smile.
Biting into a sandwich or tearing food is difficult when the front teeth do not meet, and some children develop a lisp or other speech difficulty tied to the bite. If jaw pain or clicking is a concern, see our TMJ Treatment page.
How do you treat an open bite?
We most often treat an open bite with clear aligners, Angel Aligner or Invisalign, which help the front teeth start to touch by slowly moving the back teeth into the bone. Braces are also an option, and braces and clear aligners cost the same at our practice.
Clear aligners are transparent shells, called aligners, worn 22 hours a day and taken out to eat and to brush and floss. Most of our patients finish clear aligner treatment in 12 to 24 months. When treatment ends, retainers hold the front teeth together, and the habit that caused the open bite needs to stay stopped. See Braces, Invisalign and Clear Aligners and Retainers.
When should a child with an open bite see an orthodontist?
By age 7, or sooner if your child is over 5 and still sucks their thumb regularly. The Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7, and early evaluation is always free at MacKenzie Orthodontics.
By 7 the permanent front teeth are in, so Dr. MacKenzie can evaluate an open bite and watch how the jaws are growing. Stopping the habit is the first step, and early intervention can prevent more significant problems later and may reduce the need for extensive treatment down the road; when early treatment is needed it usually takes 6 to 8 months. See Treatment for Children (ages 6 to 10) and growth monitoring for kids.
Can teens and adults have an open bite corrected?
Yes. Braces or clear aligners can close an open bite in teens and adults, and there is no upper age limit for orthodontic treatment provided your teeth and gums are healthy.
Over half of our patients are adults. In very severe cases in adults, mini-implants, small temporary anchors placed in the bone to help move the back teeth, or jaw surgery are used to correct the open bite. See Treatment for Teens and Treatment for Adults.
Does an open bite need jaw surgery?
Most do not. Surgery is considered when the space between the upper and lower teeth comes from the position of the jaws rather than the teeth alone, in a patient who has finished growing.
Jaw surgery is done by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and we provide the orthodontic treatment before and after it. We give non-surgical options to every patient who would benefit from treatment, and treatment that includes jaw surgery usually takes 24 to 30 months. Read Orthognathic Surgery.
How much does open bite treatment cost?
Your fee depends on your treatment plan, and we go through it with you at your free consultation. We offer 0% interest monthly payment plans and direct bill most major insurance providers.
Low or no down payment options and pay-in-full discounts are available, and there is no tax on our payments. See Cost, Insurance, and Financing.
Front teeth that do not meet, in your child or in yourself? Book a free consultation in Saint John, Quispamsis or St. Stephen. It includes digital x-rays, clinical photos, a 3D intraoral scan and a personalized smile simulation, at no cost and with no obligation.