What Is An Open Bite?

An open bite is a condition that can be changed for a person with braces; the braces alter the alignment of the teeth in a way that will change this bite allowing the teeth to properly close.

The open bite is when the top teeth are not able to touch the bottom teeth and when not corrected it can cause problems with not only the teeth but also with the gums and the bones of the jaw. The open bite can be genetic, it can come from sucking the thumb and it can come from tongue thrusting. When it is caused by genetics the face is often long rather than round shaped.

Without the help of braces it can lead to needing surgery to correct the open mouth bite because as a person ages, this bite has very painful effects on the jaw. In most cases to correct the open bite with braces the treatment can last for 1 ½ to 2 years depending on how severe the open bit is.

The open bite in many patients shows a masticatory muscle dysfunction and becomes a problem during clinching the teeth and chewing. After treatment with braces the masticatory muscles will work in harmony making a great difference to the patient with an open bite. The person that has open bite problems that does not get treatment means that they will have a life of biting, chewing and muscle problems. This is why it is recommended that the teeth be braced to correct the problem.