Chewing can be severely affected by an openbite, when the bottom and top teeth do not come together. Derek M. Busciglio, D.M.D., runs Busciglio Orthodontics, bringing beautiful, confident smiles throughout the Brandon, Florida, and Plant City, Florida areas. Here, he discusses why openbites are bad news, and what can be done to correct them.
An openbite is when the teeth don’t come together and they don’t touch or overlap, which can impact the way a person chews. It can happen in the front of the mouth, which is called an anterior overbite, or in the back of the mouth, which is a posterior openbite.
Part of the problem with an openbite is that the bite can stop being functional so that individuals cannot chew. So they come to me to help them close their bite down. They can also suffer from some unpleasant and unwanted habits as the result of an openbite, such as tongue thrashing.
Typically, correcting an openbite involves braces and some rubber band use. In most cases, the treatment will last anywhere from 18 to 24 months for total treatment. Interestingly, that time frame is par for the course for almost anything we run up against in this area due to the biology of the jawbone. Teeth can only move so fast within the jaws. Otherwise, it causes problems for the bone.
Reasons for Openbite
Openbites are usually functional in nature, but with problems. The reasons for an openbite developing are many. One common reason is when a person was a child he had some type of airway obstructions, such as large tonsils or adenoids, and became a mouth breather. He couldn’t breathe through his nose, so he always kept his mouth open, which resulted in an openbite.
Another reason an overbite can develop is due to thumbsucking, such as from constant sucking on pacifiers. The pressure that a foreign object in the mouth can cause cannot be underestimated. In some cases, moderate thumbsucking has no real effect, while in others it can result in a serious openbite.
Adult Openbite
Usually children come to us with openbites that need to be fixed, as the dentist has told them that they have a bad habit which has affected their teeth and they need to get it corrected. But we see openbites in adults as well.
Some adults go through life with an openbite. Many times they adapt to it, they can function, they can eat and survive. But they do not have a pretty smile, and they do not like their teeth. Often they do not smile in pictures because they hate their teeth, that type of thing, which is why they come to us to have it corrected and give them back their smile.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
