Did you ever have difficulties with posterior open bite treatment? Open bites are easily visible because the person with them is unable to close their mouth due to the position of the teeth.
An open bite is not only aesthetically pleasing but can also affect speech, chewing, and breathing and even cause muscle pain. This article will discuss the causes of an open bite in children and adults, as well as the possible side effects.
Continue reading to learn more about posterior open bite treatment!
What is an Open Bite?
An open bite is a malocclusion in which the front or rear teeth cannot close properly. This type of malocclusion occurs when patients cannot bite their teeth correctly. Some areas of the mouth are left without contact between the upper and lower arch teeth.
Open Bites Come in Different Types
Open bites can be classified according to which teeth do not contact the opposing arch. We will examine the four different types of open bites based on the part of occlusion that is not performed correctly.
1. Posterior Open Bite
A posterior open bite is when the upper back (molars), does not contact the lower back teeth. This prevents occlusion of the teeth at the back. Open bites of this type may not be visible at all to the naked eye, since they occur on the inside of your mouth.
2. Anterior Open Bite
The anterior open bit is the most common type of open bite. The anterior open bite is caused by the upper and lower teeth not properly occluding, leaving a space between them at the front.
This is the easiest open bite type to recognize since it is most visible.
3. Lateral Open Bite
When the occlusion only occurs on one side of the mouth (either the left or right), it is called a lateral open bit.
4. Complete Open Bite
A combination of an anterior and posterior open bite creates a complete open bite. This type of open bit is characterized by the last molars touching the front teeth.
Are Patients Concerned by a Posterior Open Bite During or After Aligner Treatments?
After a few months, it is not uncommon for the patient to have a posterior opening of the bite. Imagine two layers of plastic between the lower and upper molars, which will push them away. In this sense, the molars are intruded. This could be more common in patients who have bruxism.
Read also:Â Backpack Suppression vs Misting Systems Mosquito Treatments
What Causes Open Bites?
Open bites can be caused by a variety of factors. In some cases, they are genetically determined and cannot be avoided. We will examine the causes of open mouth and the habits that trigger it.
1. Genetics or Developmental Problems: Skeletal Open Bite
A skeletal open mouth is caused by genetic inheritance or developmental issues. This cannot be avoided. If the cause is genetic in nature, the parents and other family members should be tested to determine the root of the problem.
If it’s due to developmental issues then changing habits will not help. The open bite is the result of an undeveloped tooth or bone structure.
2. Childhood Habits
During childhood, children can develop habits that contribute to an open bite. It is vital that parents are involved in the development phase to prevent any malocclusions from surfacing and having an impact on the child’s dental development. Here are some habits that may lead to open bites:
3. Open Bite from a Bottle or Dummy
The prolonged use of a baby bottle or dummy is one of the most common causes of an open bite. During a child’s development, excessive use of dummies or baby bottles can cause the teeth to become misaligned. This can result in an open bite.
4. Open Bite after Thumb Sucking
Regular thumb sucking, like using a dummy, can cause open bites in the early years of life.
5. Open Bite after Tongue Thrust
Open bites can often be caused by the habit of tongue-throwing (putting the tongue in an incorrect position in the mouth). Poor tongue positioning when speaking or swallowing can cause the arches of the mouth to separate, resulting in an open bite.
6. Open Mouth from Mouth Breathing
Breathing through the mouth rather than the nose can also cause an open bite. Mouth breathing alters the position of teeth and muscles. This can affect the way that they develop.
Read also:Â Dog Breath Mints: Detailed Reviews
What are the Side Effects of Posterior Open Bite?
An open bite can have a variety of side effects that go beyond just the aesthetics.
Here we will examine the health problems that an open mouth can cause.
- An open bite can cause speech problems. The mouth cannot close properly and this makes it difficult to pronounce certain phonemes. An open bite can cause speech problems because the tongue is not positioned correctly.
- Biting and chewing problems: An open bite makes it difficult to properly chew certain foods, leading to digestive issues.
- Open bites can cause or exacerbate respiratory problems. Malocclusions can cause mouth breathing which can aggravate the condition.
- Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD): An open bite can cause more stress and tension on the jaw muscles, causing headaches, neck discomfort, or bruxism.
How to Check for Posterior Open Bite?
It is important to closely monitor the cases to see if an open bite occurs at the posterior during orthodontic treatment with clear aligners.
Before using the final aligners, check to see if there is a posterior open bite. If the clinician believes that a slight open bit is caused by the molar invasion and there is no heavy contact between the front teeth:
- Removing the aligner covering the “intruded molars” It may be possible to allow the teeth that have been intruded to return into proper occlusion without needing a revision.
- You can speed up the settling process by placing brackets or buttons on the buccal of the teeth that are causing the problem and stretching elastics to close the gap between the upper and lower teeth.
The advanced repositioning of the jaw that causes the posterior open bit has most likely caused heavy, premature contact. Under these circumstances:
- Ask for a revision to ask for lower incisor proclination and upper incisor proclination in order to remove the heavy, early contact and allow the posterior teeth to come together.
- Re-scan or repress to reproduce the posterior open bit as it is currently so that the technician can see the amount of repositioning the anterior teeth.
How Does it Cost to Treat Posterior Open Bite?
The cost of posterior open bite treatment depends on your 3 factors, the orthodontist, the medical facility, and your region.
In most cases, your bill for posterior open bite treatment ranges from $2000 to $7000 in a standard medical facility. When checking for this treatment, ensure you go for a professional in orthodontic practice with a license.
Open Bite: Frequently Asked Questions
Below are frequently asked questions on open posterior bite treatment;
1. What can Aligners do for an Open Mouth?
Ans: Aligners can be used to correct a mild or moderate open bite, sometimes in conjunction with other elements such as microscrews.
2. Can Veneers Fix an Open Bite?
Answer: Veneers, as a cosmetic treatment, are not able to fix malocclusion issues, such as an open bite.
3. Wisdom Teeth Can Cause an Open Mouth.
Answer: Wisdom teeth can cause bite changes when they erupt. They can cause an open bite in some cases.
4. Do you need to Fix an Open Bite?
Answer: An open bite should be closed to prevent the potential health issues it can cause, such as intestinal problems, muscle or bone problems, or speech or respiratory problems.
5. Can an Open Bite in a Toddler Correct Itself?
Answer: In some cases, an open bite can be corrected by the toddler. You should visit your dentist to get a proper diagnosis.
Read also:Â Do Bearded Dragons Have Teeth?: Dental Care
Conclusion
A posterior open bite can be accompanied by other complications, such as facial asymmetry. Treatment for dental POB, or POB of dental origin, can include orthodontic appliances like habit-breaking appliances and myofunctional appliances.
Skeletal malocclusions can be more difficult and require orthognathic surgical intervention. Clinically, the management of an open bite posteriorly is difficult in cases of altered or absent contact between upper and lower premolars and molars.
It is still possible to treat this condition successfully with regular orthodontic treatment, habit-breaking devices, treating the underlying systemic or local pathology, and patient cooperation.
Thanks for reading!
About The Author
Discover more from Pestclue
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.