Open bite is a type of bite misalignment whose most obvious manifestation is the appearance of a gap between the upper and lower front teeth. This condition not only reduces chewing function but also affects the overall aesthetics of the face. Open bite braces are chosen by many customers because they bring high efficiency that is maintained permanently even though the orthodontic treatment time is not short.
1. What are the characteristics of an open bite?
An open bite is considered a malocclusion, this condition causes negative effects on the aesthetics and especially the function of the teeth. When the bite is open, the tongue can be seen when the mouth is closed in a normal state due to the gap between the incisors because the upper and lower teeth do not touch each other.
Open bite condition will have the following characteristics:
– The upper and lower incisors cannot touch each other even when completely closed
– The upper incisor arch often has a characteristic V shape
– The patient has problems with pronunciation and voice
– The chewing process is difficult, there is a feeling of pain when biting and chewing
– When open bite causes protruding teeth, the connection between the forehead – nose – chin is often bent and the face is not harmonious
2. Causes of open bite
Open bite can occur due to the following reasons:
2.1. Due to genetics
If the cause of open bite is genetic, no measures can be taken to prevent it. In this case, the patient can only take some appropriate measures to re-do the teeth as well as correct the bite.
2.2. Due to bad habits
Open bite can be caused by bad daily habits formed from childhood such as thumb sucking, pen biting, tongue thrusting, pacifier sucking, etc. To overcome this and prevent open bite, parents need to regularly correct and build healthy habits for their children, good for their teeth and mouth.
2.3. Due to teeth
Open bite is often caused by teeth growing in the wrong direction, growing crosswise, misaligned or mixed together, not by deviations or defects in the jawbone structure.
2.4. Due to jawbone
People with open bite caused by jawbone often have a long face because the jawbone at this time tends to tilt down abnormally.
3. Common open bite treatment methods
The doctor may prescribe some of the following methods to correct the open bite:
3.1. Preventive treatment
During the stage when the open bite begins to form and is detected in time, if it is caused by bad habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, etc., the doctor will advise the child to stop these habits with specialized tools such as plastic retainers. If the cause of the open bite is due to a narrow or concave jaw, the patient will be fitted with a widening and closing brace.
3.2. Open bite braces
Braces are the optimal solution to help overcome the open bite condition that has formed over a long period of time. The tightening force when wearing braces will help align the teeth, thereby creating a standard, harmonious bite without causing negative effects on the tooth structure or affecting the patient’s health.
3.3. Open bite porcelain crowns
Porcelain crowns are an effective method to correct open bite in a short time. On average, it only takes 2-3 days for patients to have beautiful, even teeth with a standard bite. However, porcelain crowns need to affect the enamel to support the porcelain crown, so over time the teeth can gradually weaken.
3.4. Open bite surgery
Jaw surgery is often indicated in cases of open bite caused by the jawbone or congenital, genetic factors. In cases where the open bite is caused by both the teeth and the jawbone, the doctor will prescribe a combination of surgery and braces to bring the highest efficiency.
4. Why should you have braces for open bite?
Open bite braces are considered the most optimal method because they can bring the following benefits:
4.1. High aesthetics
Open bite not only affects the teeth and bite but also makes the face unbalanced. This makes many people feel shy and self-conscious when communicating for fear of revealing their flaws. Open bite braces help restore a harmonious face, be more confident when smiling and achieve many successes in work and life thanks to seizing timely opportunities.
4.2. Standard pronunciation
The gap between the two jaws often makes pronunciation and communication much more difficult. Especially for aspirated sounds or sounds that require tongue curling, using a lot of air such as sounds: tr, x, s, ch, th, … This greatly hinders the communication of thoughts and ideas in daily communication at work, study, … When the jaw becomes normal after braces, this condition will be completely overcome.
4.3. Improve chewing function
The ability to chew every day will definitely be affected when the patient has an open bite. At this time, due to the gap between the two jaws, the patient cannot chew or tear food as easily as usual. As a result, the digestive system can be affected if the food is not crushed and goes down to the stomach for a long time. After performing open bite braces, food will be chewed more thoroughly, the body will absorb nutrients more easily and the digestive system will also function normally and healthily.
4.4. Avoid affecting breathing ability
The gap between the upper and lower jaws can easily cause diseases such as pharyngitis and bronchitis due to the inability to close the mouth, so braces are necessary to prevent this condition.
4.5. Permanently maintained effectiveness
The biggest advantage of treating open bite with braces is that the effectiveness will be maintained permanently because the teeth have been adjusted to the desired position, although the braces time is quite long compared to other solutions.
5. Open bite braces methods
Customers can choose one of the following two methods to perform open bite braces:
5.1. Open bite braces with brackets
Braces with brackets use a system of archwires and brackets made of traditional metal or ceramic to create a tightening force to help straighten teeth to the correct position on the jaw. The archwire and brackets will be fixed on the tooth surface, so the tightening force at this time is very stable and continuous, bringing high orthodontic efficiency in a short time. However, because of this, it is easy for others to notice that you are in the process of orthodontics, so some people are still hesitant to choose metal braces.
5.2. Invisalign clear braces
Invisalign clear braces are an orthodontic method that uses the most advanced and modern technology today. Instead of using traditional wires and brackets, the braces used in this method are trays made of high-quality transparent plastic.
The clear braces are designed to be personalized to fit each person’s teeth, ensuring maximum aesthetics during the braces process. This braces tray will create a sufficient and continuous force to help the teeth move to the correct position, effectively correcting open bites, etc. In addition, with the ability to be removed flexibly, oral hygiene is no longer a big problem like when wearing braces.
6. How long does it take to get braces for an open bite?
In fact, the average time for braces varies depending on many other factors such as the method of braces, oral health, the condition of the teeth that need braces, etc. Normally, a case of braces for an open bite will range from 1.5 – 2 years. The younger the age, the shorter the time for braces and the ideal time to get braces is from 7 to 16 years old. Because at this time the permanent teeth have fully grown and the jawbone is not yet completely solid, it is very easy to adjust, saving a lot of time and money.
7. How much does open bite braces cost at BIK International Dental Clinic?
Currently, BIK International Dental Clinic provides open bite braces using braces or Invisalign clear aligners with the following specific price list:
So open bite is a type of bite misalignment caused by many different reasons, this condition not only reduces the ability to chew but also affects the overall aesthetics of the face. To safely treat open bite braces, customers should choose reputable, quality dental facilities with a transparent and clear service price list.
