Oral health is more complex than many people realize. For example, you may not have been aware that your bite and the alignment of your teeth can profoundly impact your oral health. One of the rarest types of bite is an open bite. What is an open bite? Scroll down to learn more about this malocclusion, including how it might impact your health and available treatment options.
What Defines an Open Bite?
To assess your bite, your dentist will ask you to close your mouth, bringing your upper and lower teeth together. What is an open bite? If your upper and lower front teeth don’t meet, you have an anterior open bite. If your back teeth do not make contact, you have a posterior open bite.
Causes of an Open Bite
An open bite can be caused by a variety of factors, both genetic and environmental. Sometimes, a person is born with a misaligned jaw. Other times, their bite may be affected by certain habits, such as thumb-sucking or using a pacifier during childhood or tongue-thrusting (when the tongue pushes against the front teeth when speaking or swallowing). An injury may also cause this malocclusion.
How an Open Bite May Affect Your Oral Health
An open bite can impact your health and happiness in the following ways:
- Chewing: An open bite may make it difficult to chew or bite food. With a posterior open bite, chewing certain foods may be impossible.
- Speech: An open bite may impact how you speak, potentially causing speech impediments that impact your personal and professional lives. For example, it may cause a lisp.
- Teeth Alignment: An open bite can disrupt the alignment of your teeth, which can lead to tooth decay, as it’s more difficult to clean misaligned teeth properly.
- Pain: An open bite may cause jaw pain, headaches, or other discomfort.
- TMD: An open bite may lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMD), which are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause jaw pain and dysfunction.
- Sleep: An open bite may lead to poor sleep quality because people with malocclusions are more prone to snoring and sleep apnea.
Beyond the physiological effects, people with open bites may notice psychological impacts. For example, they may feel self-conscious about their appearance and be reluctant to smile or laugh.
How to Fix an Open Bite
If you have concerns about your bite, visit a dentist or orthodontist for a professional evaluation. Using quick and painless X-rays and 3D imaging, your dentist can examine your teeth structure and any underlying issues below the gum line. Then, they will discuss treatment options with you. In many cases, Invisalign clear aligners or traditional metal braces can be used to correct an open bite. Both orthodontic treatments slowly shift teeth into the correct position over time, but Invisalign is more discreet and convenient because the aligners are transparent and removable. If a certain habit is causing an open bite (such as tongue-thrusting), behavior modification may be recommended as well. In more extreme circumstances, jaw surgery may be necessary.
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If you or your child have an open bite, schedule a visit with a dentist to discuss your options.
At Keen Smiles Family Dental, we offer Invisalign, which is a great option for treating many types of malocclusions, including open bites. So, if you’re looking for an experienced, reliable, and friendly dentist near Springfield, Missouri, contact Keen Smiles Family Dental today. Dr. Wilkinson and his team will give you the personalized treatment you deserve using state-of-the-art technology. For exceptional and comprehensive dental care, schedule your first appointment today by calling 417-708-0556 or requesting an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!
