Open Bite Treatment

An open bite is when your upper and lower teeth dont meet when you close your mouth. Theres a gap between them, usually in the front but sometimes in the back. If you have an open bite, you might have trouble biting into foods like sandwiches or apples, and you might notice speech issues or jaw problems.

At Stillwater Dental Bend, we diagnose and treat open bites in both children and adults. The earlier we catch it, the easier it is to correct, but we have effective treatment options for all ages. If your dealing with an open bite, were here to help you understand what caused it and how to fix it.

Open bites usually develop from childhood habits. Thumb sucking is the most common cause. When kids suck their thumb for years, the constant pressure pushes the front teeth apart and prevents them from growing down properly. Pacifier use beyond age three can have the same effect.

Tongue thrusting is another big cause. This is when you push your tongue forward against or between your teeth when you swallow. Over time, this constant pressure creates a gap. Some people develop tongue thrusting because of enlarged tonsils or adenoids that affect how they breathe and swallow.

Genetics play a role too. The size and shape of your jaw is inherited, and if theres a mismatch between jaw size and tooth size, an open bite can develop. Some people are just born with jaws that grow in a way that creates an open bite.

Mouth breathing, especially in kids, can contribute to open bites. When you breathe through your mouth instead of your nose, it affects how your face and jaw develop. Allergies, enlarged tonsils, or a deviated septum can all lead to chronic mouth breathing.

Treatment for an open bite depends on whats causing it and how severe it is. For kids who are still growing, the first step is stopping the habit thats causing the problem. If a child is thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, we work with them and their parents to break the habit.

Once the habit stops, the open bite might improve on its own if the child is young enough. If not, we can use braces or other orthodontic appliances to bring the teeth together. Braces work by applying gentle pressure to move the front teeth down and back teeth up until they meet properly.

For tongue thrusting, we might recommend myofunctional therapy. This is like physical therapy for your mouth and tongue. A specialist teaches you exercises to retrain how you swallow and position your tongue. Without fixing the tongue thrust, orthodontic treatment alone might not hold.

Clear aligners can work for mild open bites in adults, but traditional braces are usually more effective for this type of problem. Braces give us better control over vertical tooth movement.

In severe cases, especially when the open bite is skeletal and not just dental, jaw surgery might be needed. Surgery repositions the jaw bones so the teeth can meet. This is combined with braces before and after surgery.

At Stillwater Dental Bend, we evaluate each open bite individually and create a treatment plan thats right for your situation and age.

During your oral health exam, we measure the gap between your upper and lower teeth and determine what type of open bite you have. We take x rays to see if the problem is skeletal or dental. This tells us whether the jaw bones are the issue or if its just the position of the teeth.

We check for signs that the open bite is causing problems, like excessive wear on the back teeth, jaw pain, or TMJ issues. We also evaluate your airway and breathing to see if the open bite is contributing to sleep or breathing problems.

For kids, we watch for habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting during the exam. Catching these early and helping kids stop them can prevent open bites from developing or getting worse.

An open bite can make certain areas harder to keep clean, especially if your back teeth are doing all the chewing and getting more wear. Professional teeth cleanings at Stillwater Dental Bend help remove plaque and tartar buildup.

If your getting orthodontic treatment to fix your open bite, regular cleanings become even more important. Braces create more spots where plaque can hide, and professional cleanings help prevent cavities and gum disease during treatment.

We recommend cleanings every six months, or more often if you have braces or gum issues. Our hygienists will teach you the best ways to clean around orthodontic appliances.

Because open bites force your back teeth to do all the chewing, those teeth can get worn down over time. If molars are significantly worn or damaged, dental crowns can restore them to the right size and shape.

We usually fix the open bite first with orthodontic treatment, then restore any damaged teeth with crowns. This protects your investment and prevents further damage. At Stillwater Dental Bend, we create custom crowns that work with your corrected bite.

At Stillwater Dental Bend, we take a holistic approach to treating open bites. We dont just move teeth. We identify what caused the open bite and address the underlying issues, whether its a habit that needs breaking or breathing problems that need attention.

We’ve been serving the Bend community for years and have helped many patients correct their bites. We work with kids to break habits early and have effective treatment options for adults who have lived with open bites for years.

We’ll be honest about what treatment you need and how long it will take. We want you to have realistic expectations and a clear understanding of the process.