Open Bite

What Is An Open Bite?

For a person to bite down and speak normally, their upper and lower teeth must touch. If a person’s upper and lower teeth don’t touch, this is called an open bite. There are various types of open bites that should be addressed through orthodontic treatment.

An anterior open bite occurs when front teeth don’t touch. This causes an aesthetically unpleasing smile as well as issues with proper jaw function impacting speech and biting capabilities. Anterior open bites will often result in excessive wear of posterior teeth.

A posterior open bite is when back teeth don’t touch. This is usually a result of side tongue thrusts or poor dental habits prevalent in children. 

Symmetric open bites are typically caused by consistent tongue thrusts, while asymmetric open bites are caused by poor habits that impact dental health such as thumb sucking. 

Why Should I Fix An Open Bite?

Whether a patient’s open bite is anterior or posterior, this can have an impact on normal daily life, like difficulty speaking, chewing, and smiling. To prevent these issues from becoming worse, it’s important to have problems diagnosed and corrected early. 

Adults or children as young as seven may be optimal candidates for treatment to correct open bites. If you are concerned about your child’s open bite and how it will impact their smile down the line, we can help. Thumb sucking and similar habits often exacerbate overbite issues so you should not wait until they have all of their permanent teeth to review treatment options. Seeking proper diagnosis and treatment from a certified orthodontist is important to ensure safe and lasting treatment.

What Is The Best Way To Treat An Open Bite?

At Adirondack Orthodontics, we are experienced with open bites, overbites, underbites, crowded teeth, and many other issues. No matter the age of the patient, we can find the right solution to give them straight, healthy teeth so they can speak, chew, and smile normally.

Call our office today to set up an appointment so that we can learn more about your needs and discuss treatment options. We make orthodontia affordable and as stress-free as possible by providing financing options and working with most insurances in the area. We would love to hear from you today and start you on your journey to a beautiful, healthy smile.