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Open Bites

 

What is an open bite?

Usually when someone is referred to having an open bite it means that when they bite down their back teeth touch but not the front. Open bites are a type of malocclusion (Bad-Bite), which means the teeth are don't meet properly when the jaws are closed.

 

What causes an open bite?

    • Thumb sucking; thumb sucking while your adult teeth grow in can cause your teeth grow forward and outward.
    • Pacifier sucking; just like thumb sucking, if the patient continues to suck on pacifiers as their adult teeth grow in can cause the front teeth to protrude outwards.
    • Tongue thrust: when you swallow you push your tongue forward between your teeth.
    • Skeletal problem: when your jaws grow apart instead of parallel. 

Why does an open bite need to be fixed?

  • Aesthetics: Patients may be unhappy with the appearance of their teeth when they smile.
  • Speech: Patients that have an open bite may speak with a lisp and have a hard time with pronunciation.
  • Eating; When patients try to eat, they have a hard time biting through food and have an issue with chewing.
  • Tooth wear: The back teeth are coming together more often than the front; this can lead to discomfort and fracturing teeth.

 

How does an orthodontist correct an open bite?

  • Behavior modification
  • Orthodontic treatment
  • Surgery

 

Patients that have all their adult teeth can use a combination of braces and behavior modifications. Patients that have severe cases may need to have surgery along with braces and behavior modification.



-LS

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