Open Bite
Open bite is one of the most common dental malocclusions among the population, its incidence being similar to that of crowding, overbite or crossbite.
In addition to having a very negative esthetic impact on the smile, it generates another series of inconveniences and consequences for oral health.
As with most oral diseases, open bite can occur in different degrees, although it is best addressed in childhood.
It can usually be corrected by orthodontic treatment, either with braces or clear aligners, such as Invisalign.
However, the diagnosis can be complicated if we detect open bite in adulthood.
What is an open bite?
A person is considered to have an open bite when one or more teeth fail to contact their antagonists.
Normally, it implies a lack of contact between the upper and lower canines and incisors -lateral and central-, although it can also occur in the molars.
This makes it impossible to close the mouth completely, with all the teeth.
Therefore, the symptoms of open bite are very clear: a visible space between the teeth.
Anterior open bite
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OPEN BITE
What types of open bite are there?
This type of dental malocclusion can be classified into two types:
Anterior open bite
This is the most common complication.
It occurs when the patient bites and the upper and lower teeth that do not contact are the front teeth.
Posterior open bite
As its name indicates, in this case it is the back teeth that do not contact when the person tries to close his mouth.
Lateral open bite
It occurs when the lack of dental fit occurs on only one side of the mouth, and can occur on the left or right side.
Although most of the time, this malocclusion is treated by orthodontics, in some cases it is necessary to resort to surgery. To prevent this from happening, diagnosis at an early age is essential.
Why does this malocclusion occur?
Although there are causes that cannot be avoided -such as those related to genetic inheritance-, the truth is that the origin of open bite is largely influenced by habits acquired during childhood.
Therefore, parental involvement is vital for its prevention, so that they can detect certain habits that, in the long run, produce this and other dental malocclusions.
However, it is not in our power to prevent the development of posterior open bite, as it is due to incomplete eruption or absence of posterior teeth.
The habits we have referred to apply, above all, when it comes to preventing the development of anterior open bite, the main causes of which are:
Thumb sucking in the first years of life.
Prolonged pacifier use
Pushing the teeth with the tongue
Breathing through the mouth instead of through the nose
Open bite in children
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PACIFIER OPEN BITE
The first check-up with the orthodontist
Apart from keeping an eye on these habits and trying to stop them as soon as possible, it is essential to take the little ones to see an orthodontist at an early age.
In fact, according to the Spanish Society of Orthodontics (SEDO), and despite the fact that dental development seems adequate at first glance, it is advisable that the first check-up with this professional should take place at the age of 6.
An early diagnosis greatly simplifies treatment, not only in terms of the appliances to be used, but also in terms of duration and cost.
What problems does open bite cause?
It is obvious that open bite has a very negative effect on our image.
However, beyond the esthetic inconveniences it may cause, this type of malocclusion has other consequences related to our health.
Alterations in speech: a person with an open bite cannot pronounce phonemes correctly, as the tongue cannot position itself as it should.
Difficulty in eating and chewing: since there is no contact between the teeth, a person finds it quite difficult to eat a snack normally, for example.
Breathing problems: the patient tends to breathe through the mouth, as it is impossible to close it completely.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Treatments: what are the solutions for this malocclusion?
The treatment for open bite depends mainly on the age of the patient and the degree of the malocclusion.
Correcting the open bite without surgery is possible most of the time, using only orthodontics.
This treatment is carried out by means of interceptive orthodontics, in case of open bite in children, and the one placed in adults when maxillofacial development is already completed.
However, there are occasions when it is also necessary to resort to maxillofacial surgery.
Interceptive orthodontics
Interceptive orthodontics is performed exclusively in children who are in the growth phase.
During this time, the orthodontist can guide or modify the development of their bones, making it the simplest procedure.
As we have explained above, an open bite is caused by incorrect growth of the teeth and jaw bones.
The appliances used in interceptive orthodontics are able to intervene the bony bases that are not harmonious and normalize facial development.
Take your child to the orthodontist
Open bite in adults can be more complicated to diagnose, so it is best to treat it at about age 6.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is indicated for adolescents and adults whose bones are fully developed.
Precisely for this reason, there is no longer room to move their bones with dental appliances.
However, they present a slight malocclusion that can be corrected by orthodontic treatment.
In this case, the patient can choose the type of dental appliance he or she prefers for treatment, and can opt for brackets (metal, sapphire or lingual) or the Invisalign system, based on clear aligners.
Combined orthodontic treatment with orthognathic surgery
It is performed in adults who have a very severe open bite, so that resorting to orthodontics alone is insufficient to solve the malocclusion.
In this case, a combined treatment of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery is indicated.
First of all, orthodontic appliances bring each tooth into its proper position.
After about a year, the patient undergoes orthognathic surgery, which modifies the size and position of both the mandible and the maxilla.
Once the person has recovered from the operation, he or she undergoes orthodontic treatment to completely restore harmony and functionality to the dentition.
The complete treatment lasts approximately 36 months, although this time varies from case to case.
Before
After
Is there an alternative to orthognathic surgery?
It is true that the most effective solution and the one that achieves the best results is orthognathic surgery.
However, there are people who do not want to undergo this type of intervention because they find it too invasive.
In some of these cases, the orthodontist may consider the possibility of addressing the open bite with orthodontic treatment alone.
While it is true that this will not provide an optimal result, it does mitigate the consequences of this malocclusion to some extent.
In this way, it offers the patient a greater and better quality of life than he or she had before wearing orthodontics.
However, bear in mind that it is up to the specialist to determine whether in your case it is viable to opt for this method instead of a combined treatment.
SOLVE YOUR OPEN BITE
Is it necessary to see a speech therapist?
The open bite treatments we have explained involve the joint work of orthodontic and maxillofacial surgery specialists.
But, in the same way, it is essential to highlight the importance of speech therapy professionals.
It is very common for the solution to correct this malocclusion to involve interdisciplinary work between the orthodontist and the speech therapist.
People of all ages can be subjected to this joint work, but the treatment is more effective the younger the patient is.
Speech therapy exercises are best performed when the teeth and bones are still in the process of development, i.e. in the interceptive orthodontic phase.
In this way, the speech therapist will be able to improve phonation and tongue placement to ensure correct pronunciation.
Which professional will correct your open bite?
At DrAW Dental Clinic we have specialists in all areas of dentistry, including of course a team of orthodontists.
In addition, we have the extensive experience of Dr. Andrea Becerril, who specializes in combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery treatments.
She is in charge of planning and supervising the entire orthodontic treatment. However, the surgical phase is carried out by a maxillofacial surgeon.
As you can see, open bite is a dental malocclusion that not only has an aesthetic impact on the smile.
Moreover, in many cases, it can be avoided if the habits that favor it – pacifier abuse, thumb sucking, etc. – are eliminated.
Although it may seem complicated to correct certain habits in children, the truth is that it is much more complex to solve an open bite over the years.
Therefore, from the DrAW Dental Clinic we remind you that prevention is the best way to avoid costly treatments that extend over a long period of time.
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