Open Bite Treatment In Colorado Springs

An open bite can be closed at almost any age, and how I approach it depends on what caused it in the first place. At my Colorado Springs office I see open bites in young children who still suck a thumb, in teens whose front teeth never quite came together, and in adults who have watched the gap widen over the years. Depending on the cause, the answer might be a habit appliance, braces or aligners, or, for the more severe adult cases, orthodontics combined with jaw surgery.

What an open bite is

When you close on your back teeth, your upper front teeth should overlap the lower ones just slightly. In an anterior open bite they never meet, and a visible gap stays open between the upper and lower front teeth. Less commonly the gap shows up along the sides, which is called a posterior open bite. Both fall under malocclusion, and Cleveland Clinic’s malocclusion page offers a helpful overview of how bite problems are classified.

The effects go well beyond appearance. Many people with an open bite can’t bite through a sandwich or a noodle with their front teeth, and some develop a lisp. Because the front teeth aren’t sharing the work, the back teeth can wear down faster, and some of my patients describe strain in the jaw.

What causes it

I group the causes into two categories, since each one calls for a different kind of treatment.

Habits and tongue posture

Years of thumb or finger sucking, a pacifier kept long past infancy, and a tongue that thrusts forward during swallowing can all keep the front teeth from meeting, and so can a tongue that rests low and forward in the mouth. In some children mouth breathing caused by allergies or large tonsils plays a part as well, and I’ll occasionally recommend a visit to your pediatrician or an ENT.

Jaw growth

For other patients the teeth themselves are fine, and the trouble is that the jaws grew in a way that leaves the front open. Very often the back of the upper jaw grew downward too far, which props the front teeth apart. These skeletal open bites show up more often in people with a long face shape, and they tend to run in families.

Plenty of patients have some of both, which is exactly why I take my time with the diagnosis.

How I treat open bites by age

Young children

When a child still has the habit, ending it comes first. Sometimes gentle encouragement and a reward chart are all it takes. When they aren’t, I can fit a small habit appliance behind the front teeth that makes thumb sucking less satisfying and teaches the tongue to rest in a better position. A good number of early open bites close by themselves once the habit is gone, and if the upper jaw is also narrow, I may use an expander at the same time. You can learn more about early care on our children’s orthodontics page.

Teens

After the adult teeth have come in, I usually close an open bite with braces or clear aligners. The aim is to bring the front teeth together and, where it’s needed, stop the back teeth from erupting any further. Now and then I add small elastics or temporary anchorage devices for extra help. I also offer hybrid aligner treatment, which blends both approaches for patients who would like aligners but need a bit more control.

Adults

Adults can certainly have an open bite closed with orthodontics alone when the cause is mostly dental or the difference between the jaws is mild. Aligners suit many of these cases well, because the trays cover the back teeth and help keep them in place. When the jaws are badly mismatched, though, the most stable solution is often surgical orthodontics, in which I straighten the teeth and an oral surgeon moves the jaw into a new position. Cleveland Clinic explains jaw surgery and recovery if you’d like a reliable outside source.

Your first visit

I can’t tell you how I would treat your open bite until I’ve seen it for myself. I’ll examine your bite, take photos and X rays, and watch how you swallow and where your tongue rests. The checklist below lists what to bring and what to ask so that the visit is as useful as possible.

Keeping an open bite closed

Open bites are known for coming back, and they’ve earned that reputation. The tongue is a powerful muscle, and if it keeps pressing forward after treatment, it can gradually reopen the gap, which is why my work doesn’t end once the teeth have moved. These are the things that help the result last:

• Myofunctional exercises that retrain where the tongue rests and how you swallow
• Retainers worn as directed, and sometimes a bonded wire behind the front teeth
• Treating mouth breathing or allergies that keep the tongue low
• Regular follow up visits during the first year after braces come off

Our retainers page describes the types I use. With open bite patients I tend to be more careful about retention than usual, and I would much rather ask you to keep wearing a retainer a little longer than see you return for more treatment.

How long treatment takes

A young child might wear a habit appliance for several months. For a teen or adult, braces or aligners for an open bite usually take one to two years, depending on how wide the gap is and whether the jaws are part of the problem. Surgical cases take longer, because there is orthodontic work both before and after the operation, and I’ll give you an honest estimate at your consultation.

Why it’s worth treating

Once an open bite is closed, you can bite through food with your front teeth again, your speech often improves, and the force of chewing is shared across all your teeth. Many adults tell me the biggest difference is in their confidence, since they no longer hide their smile in photos. For children, early treatment can stop a habit driven open bite from becoming a jaw growth problem down the road.

Who is writing this

I’m Dr. Sheila Soroushian, a board certified orthodontist practicing in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. I earned my degree in biochemistry at California State University, Long Beach, went to dental school at Tufts University, and completed my orthodontic residency at Howard University, where I published research in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics. You can read more on my bio page.

Have a gap between your front teeth when you bite? Let’s take a look together. Call (719) 268-7138 or request a complimentary consultation online.

Open bite questions I hear in Colorado Springs

Book an open bite consultation

Our Colorado Springs office is at 2575 Montebello Dr W, Suite 101, and we also see patients at our Woodland Park office. Your first visit is complimentary, and you’ll walk out knowing what is causing your open bite and what I would recommend.

Book your complimentary consultation at Inner Smiles Orthodontics in Colorado Springs. Call (719) 268-7138 or request a complimentary consultation online.