If your front teeth don’t touch but your back teeth do, you likely have an open bite. Unfortunately, an open bite can hinder the appearance of your smile, make you feel self-conscious, and place extra stress on the back of your teeth and jaw joints. An open bite can also make it difficult for you to chew everyday foods such as apples. In addition, it can interfere with your speech.
There are a number of reasons you may experience an open bite. An open bite is typically the result of thumb or pacifier sucking, tongue thrusting, TMJ disorder, or a skeletal problem. The good news is that open bites are fairly common and can usually be resolved with Invisalign. Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, comfortable, and can be removed for everyday activities such as eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing.
If they are worn for at least 22 hours a day, they can slowly but surely move the teeth into their proper position and completely correct an open bite. Invisalign treatment plans usually take a year to complete but will largely depend on the severity of your open bite.
In the event that you have a moderate to severe open bite, you may require surgery. The purpose of surgery for this condition is to reposition the upper jaw. The Raleigh Pediatric Dentists at Carolina Pediatric Dentistry always tell patients contacting a medical or dental professional is step one in making a major oral health decision. We suggest this as well.
Schedule an Appointment at Gladwell Orthodontics
If you believe you have an open bite, call our office at 919-453-6325 to meet with Dr. Jason Gladwell and determine a viable treatment plan.
