Open bite correction in Houston
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Case of The Month
When the top teeth don't touch the bottom ones, then we have an open bite case. The easiest way to check if you have an open bite or not is to try to hold a piece of paper with your front teeth.
What causes an open bite?
Usually, teeth have the tendency to touch each other. If an open bite exists, that means something is interfering between the top and bottom teeth preventing them from the meeting.
The most common cause in children is thumb sucking and in an adult is tongue thrust. Also, other bad habits might contribute to open bites such as pen biting and pipe smoking.
What are the consequences of an open bite?
- Besides the non-cosmetic appearance, an open bite can greatly affect how you pronounce certain letters such as "t,z, and th".
- Open bite can also lead to TemporoMandibular Joint disorders TMJ.
- Difficulties in chewing and eating
- Chronic mouth breathing
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Certain cases require speech therapy in conjunction with braces.
How to treat an open bite?
Treating an open bite requires an excellent treatment plan that includes at least two folds:
1- Elimination of the cause; no more thumb sucking or tongue thrust.
2- Putting traditional braces to move the upper teeth as well as the lower teeth to their proper position. Sometimes, orthodontic appliances and TADs are needed to enhance the outcome and prevent gummy smile formation. Recent researches have confirmed the effectiess of TADs in treating open bite without surgery.
3- In evere cases, you might need a corrective jaw surgery.
Usually in complex cases, Dr. Kanaan likes to coordinate the treatment as team with the your general dentist and the oral surgeon if needed.
If an open bite is not treated correctly, it can lead to a gummy smile. Here is a patient that visited our orthodontist Dr. Kanaan for open bite correction in Houston. Dr. Kanaan recommended not only braces to close the bite, but also 2 mini implants TADs to maintain her smile line. Excellent outcome and stability after 4 years.
Another research has shown that “the introduction of TAD as an effective treatment modality, orthognathic surgery may be avoidable in selected anterior open bite cases.”
How to maintain my corrected open bite?
The secret is to keep your tongue away by using special small tongue spikes.
Your upper front teeth and the lower front teeth need to be in balance and function to prevent any possible relpase. This has been confirmed by research where the spikes helped to keep the tongue in a more posterior location.
Here is a testimonial from a patient who got braces before.
It is very important to wear your retainers and eliminate any habits that can contribute to bringing back your open bite.
Can we correct this case without surgery?
We posted this start case almost 3 years ago and we have good news for you. Dr. Kanaan corrected the open bite without surgery using clear braces and two mini-implants “TADs”.
The key here is to use light force so the teeth, gum, and bone can move at the same rate. We left two tongue spikes to prevent any possibility of tongue thrusting.
How long does open bite correction treatment typically last in Houston?
Most cases of open bite correction treatments in Houston typically last between 18 to 24 months, depending on the severity of the open bite and the chosen treatment approach. It's essential to consult with Dr. Kanaan for a personalized assessment and treatment plan.
Refrences:
Reichert I, Figel P, Winchester L. Orthodontic treatment of anterior open bite: a review article--is surgery always necessary? Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2014 Sep;18(3):271-7. doi: 10.1007/s10006-013-0430-5. Epub 2013 Aug 16. PMID: 23949448.