An open bite happens when the upper and lower teeth don’t meet when the mouth is closed, creating a noticeable gap. Thankfully, Dr. Johnson can fix your open bite with orthodontics. Many patients at Johnson Orthodontics have an anterior open bite — a type of open bite where the back teeth on each jaw come into contact but the front teeth do not.
In some cases, patients have a posterior open bite — this occurs when the back teeth do not meet, but the front teeth do. Whether you have an anterior or posterior open bite, Dr. Johnson and his friendly expert team have written this guide detailing how we fix an open bite with orthodontics.
How Is An Open Bite Treated?
Genetics, tongue thrusting, and mouth injuries are a few of the causes of open bites. Open bites can lead to chewing difficulties and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders if left untreated. Johnson Orthodontics offers three treatment options that can help fix an open bite:
Metal Braces
For more than a decade, metal braces have been our top choice for treating open bites, especially severe ones. Our conventional metal braces are made up of the following parts:
- Archwire: This is a wire that connects all the brackets. Dr. Johnson will adjust the wire according to the progression of your open bite treatment.
- Steel Brackets: We use a special adhesive to secure the brackets on each of your teeth. Our brackets are medical-grade and durable, too.
- Elastic Ligatures: They’re available in different colors and are secured around the brackets, keeping the archwire in place during treatment.
Together, these components exert gentle pressure on your pearly whites, moving them into the correct positions while eliminating the gap between your upper and lower jaw. Though metal braces are noticeable, they have become smaller over the years and will give you a beautiful, aligned smile post-treatment.
Always remember that your beautiful smile will not come overnight. However, metal braces work faster than our other treatment options for open bites. You’ll only be in braces for 18 to 22 months. (This is just the average time frame, as completion time depends on the severity of your open bite.)
With Dr. Johnson’s vast experience and remarkable expertise in orthodontics, he can tell whether you’ll undergo treatment for six months or 22 months.
Clear Braces
Discreet and lacking in metal parts, clear braces belong on the opposite end of the orthodontic spectrum. Because of their near-invisible appearance, Dr. Johnson often recommends clear braces to older teenagers and adults.
In fact — from the archwire to the elastic ligatures — every component is camouflaged. Like metal braces, these clear ceramic braces will align your teeth and close the gap between your jaw. Treatment times are slightly longer than with traditional metal braces, averaging 18 to 36 months.
Although the clear elastics and wire can stain over time, it doesn’t mean you have to eliminate coffee or wine from your diet. We recommend keeping colored drink consumption to a minimum to maintain the appliance’s discreetness longer, as well as brushing or rinsing after you drink something like coffee, tea, wine, or soda.
Clear braces can be more expensive than metal braces, but don’t worry; Dr. Johnson will factor in the severity of your open bite, and our financial coordinator will work with you to ensure that whichever option you choose works for your budget!
Invisalign
Invisalign is proof that open bite treatment goes beyond brackets and wires. The clear aligners are manufactured from medical-grade thermoplastic, which is flexible, comfortable, and safe to put in your mouth. Because we create a 3D impression of your smile, rest assured that our freshly crafted aligners will fit perfectly on your teeth.
Invisalign treatment is straightforward. You’ll wear your Invisalign clear aligners for approximately 22 hours each day, only taking them out to eat and brush. Like braces, Invisalign aligners will exert a gentle pressure on your teeth so they can move into alignment. Each week or so, you’ll switch to a new set of aligners.
Progress is subtle, but as you transition from one aligner to another, you’ll notice that your upper and lower teeth are coming together. Bear in mind that not wearing aligners for the recommended number of hours each day will compromise your treatment time and smile. Our team recommends Invisalign clear aligners for mild to moderate open bites, with treatment only taking 9 to 15 months.
How Do I Know Which Orthodontic Treatment is Right for Me?
This comes down to expert opinion. For Dr. Johnson to determine the right orthodontic treatment, we’ll first capture 3D images of your smile. This way, we can better examine your jaw anatomy and teeth makeup.
After Dr. Johnson assesses the images and diagnoses you as having an open bite, he will propose a personalized treatment plan. Factors that we consider in the creation of your treatment plan include:
- Your medical and family history
- The severity of your open bite
- Personal preferences
- Lifestyle
- Budget
- Smile goals
From there, we can decide if metal braces, clear braces, or Invisalign is the right choice for your needs. For example — if you’re an adult with moderate open bite in a profession that demands frequent socialization — you’ll likely be eligible for Invisalign.
No More Open Bites
With our clinic’s modern orthodontic technology, you can count on the Johnson Orthodontics team to provide comfortable treatment options for your open bite. But don’t wait until your open bite gets worse. Call our office in Rehoboth or schedule a free consultation with us today, and together, we’ll help you take the first step to a better, healthier smile.