Many individuals notice their teeth don’t make contact when their mouth is closed. This dental misalignment is known as an open bite. It can arise from various factors, impacting oral function and well-being.
What It Means When Teeth Don’t Touch
An open bite is a type of malocclusion where teeth do not meet properly upon closing the mouth, creating a noticeable gap. Open bites can occur in different areas, leading to specific classifications. Anterior open bites involve the front upper and lower teeth, preventing them from touching. This means even when back teeth are together, there’s no vertical contact between front incisors. In contrast, a posterior open bite involves a lack of contact between back teeth, such as molars or premolars, even when front teeth are in occlusion.
Why This Happens: Common Causes
The development of an open bite is often attributed to genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors.
Skeletal factors
Skeletal factors involve jaw growth and development. An open bite can result if jaws grow apart rather than parallel, often influenced by genetics. Disproportionate jaw sizes or unusual vertical growth patterns can also contribute. Severe skeletal discrepancies may lead to issues where molars do not align properly.
Dental factors
Dental factors relate to problems with tooth eruption and alignment. A dental open bite can occur if a tooth is unable to erupt sufficiently. Issues such as incomplete eruption, extra teeth (supernumerary teeth) blocking pathways, or the absence of certain teeth can disrupt alignment and prevent proper contact.
Habit-related factors
Habit-related factors are common causes, particularly in childhood. Prolonged habits like thumb sucking or extended pacifier use can exert pressure that shifts teeth. Tongue thrusting, where the tongue pushes against front teeth during swallowing or speech, is another common habit. Mouth breathing, often due to allergies or nasal obstructions, can also alter jaw development and contribute to an open bite.
How It Can Affect You
An open bite can lead to functional, health, and aesthetic consequences, impacting daily life.
One common impact is on chewing and eating, as lack of contact makes it challenging to bite or tear certain foods, leading to inefficient chewing. This can result in digestive problems from improperly chewed food. Speech can also be affected, with individuals developing lisps or other impediments due to air escaping through the gap during pronunciation.
Oral health can be compromised, as teeth that do make contact may experience increased wear. Food particles can become trapped, making cleaning difficult and increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum issues. An open bite can place undue stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), potentially leading to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), characterized by jaw pain, headaches, or difficulty opening and closing the mouth. The visible gap can impact facial appearance and self-confidence.
How Dental Professionals Can Help
Dental professionals employ various methods to diagnose and treat an open bite, tailoring approaches to the individual’s condition and age. Assessment includes a clinical examination, dental X-rays, and dental impressions to create models.
Treatment often involves orthodontic intervention. Braces are a common method to gradually reposition teeth and jaws. Clear aligners are also utilized for moving teeth into proper alignment. For open bites caused by habits like tongue thrusting, myofunctional therapy may be recommended to retrain oral muscles and correct swallowing patterns.
For severe skeletal discrepancies, orthognathic surgery, or jaw surgery, may be necessary. This procedure involves surgically repositioning jawbones to achieve proper alignment and bite closure, often with orthodontics. Early intervention, particularly in childhood, can be beneficial, as addressing habits or growth issues at a younger age may prevent more complex treatments later.