Reviving Smiles: Anterior Open Bite Solutions

Empowering Smiles: Conquering Anterior Open Bite Challenges in Karachi

Discovering effective solutions for anterior open bite isn’t just about treatment—it’s about restoring confidence, transforming smiles, and bringing comfort. Our clinic in Karachi specializes in providing not just dental care, but also understanding and empathy for those seeking to overcome open bite challenges. Together, we’ll navigate this journey towards a confident, happier smile.

Open bite is a kind of malocclusion in which teeth of the upper arch and the lower arch do not meet resulting in an opening between the top and the bottom teeth. It is not very common in the Pakistani population. In a study of 267 patients in Karachi, just 9% had anterior open bite—a less common finding in this population. It is difficult to treat an open bite. It can be an anterior open-bite or posterior open bite. It can be due to a skeletal problem or a dental problem. There are many causes of open bite for example tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, long-term usage of pacifiers, macroglossia, airway obstruction, etc. Your orthodontist can find out the actual reason for open-bite, whether it is a skeletal issue or dental or habitual and treat an open-bite case accurately.

Case Report of anterior open bite

 open-bite cases are not easy to treat and they can get worse over time

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the key to success to any treatment is solving patient's chief complaint

Patient complaints

A patient visited Prof. Irfan Qamruddin with a complaint of an anterior open-bite. She also had speech impediments. She was unable to produce the sound of ‘S’ properly. She was unhappy with her incompetent lips. She was not able to eat from her front teeth for example taking a bite of a burger etc. Overall, she was not happy with the appearance of her teeth. On examination, we found out that she had

Open-Bite
Incompetent Lips
Bimaxillary Proclination
Long Face
Lisping
Convex Facial Profile
Aesthetic Issues

Anterior Open Bite

Incompetent Lips

Long Face

Bimaxillary Proclination

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Treatment plan of anterior open bite

Prof. Irfan Qamruddin planned this case carefully. His treatment plan was to treat this case with fixed orthodontic appliances. After deep cleaning, teeth were bonded with brackets. The plan included the retraction proclined incisors to guide proper lip closure. This also helped in the closure of the open-bite.  To reduce the facial height intrusion of molars was planned. In this case, 4 pre-molars were extracted.

Banding and Bonding
Pre-molar Extraction
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Duration of the treatment of Anterior open bite

The duration of this treatment of anterior open bite case was 2 years. Be sure to seek an expert orthodontist for the best results.

Results of Anterior open bite

Treatment was planned to improve aesthetics and solve all the complaints of this patient. We achieved

Open-Bite Closure 100%
Competency of lips 100%
Bimaxillary Proclination Correction 100%
Shortening of Face Acheived 100%
Lisping Solved 100%
Straight Facial Profile Achieved 100%
Aesthetic Achieved 100%
Open-Bite Closure
Competent Lips
Straight Facial Profile
Shortening of Face
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The patient was very happy at the end of her treatment and couldn’t stop smiling confidently. Our goal at IIOCO is to make our patients happy and want to be the reason for their positive smiles. Our team at IIOCO is experienced and keeps our patient’s complaints at priority and tries to solve all their dental issues. Overall, an improved smile can make lasting changes in a person’s life.

Before and After of anterior open bite

Before

anterior open bite

After

IMG_20171212_194422
competency of lips achieved
straight profile

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Frequently asked questions

An open bite is a dental problem where the upper and lower teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed, creating a gap between them.

 

Open bite can be of several types which can be explained as 

  1. Posterior Open Bite: In this type, the back teeth don’t meet properly when the mouth is closed.

  2. Anterior Open Bite: The front teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed.

  3. Lateral Open Bite: When there’s a gap between the upper and lower teeth on the sides, it’s known as a lateral open bite.

  4. Complete Open Bite: This is when there’s no contact between the upper and lower teeth, causing an open gap throughout the mouth.

There are several causes of open bite there can be 1 cause explained below.

  1. Genetics or Skeletal Problems: Some individuals might inherit a jaw structure that leads to an open bite.

  2. Thumb Sucking or Pacifier Use: Prolonged habits like thumb sucking or excessive pacifier use during childhood can cause an open bite to develop.

  3. Tongue Thrust: An improper tongue resting position or swallowing pattern can exert pressure on the teeth, leading to an open bite.

  4. Mouth Breathing: Chronic breathing through the mouth instead of the nose can impact how the teeth and jaws develop, potentially resulting in an open bite.

The open bite can pose several health challenges, including:

  1. Chewing difficulties: Inadequate contact between the front teeth can hinder proper food chewing.
  2. Speech issues: An open bite may lead to pronunciation challenges with certain sounds and words.
  3. Aesthetic concerns: It can impact facial aesthetics and affect an individual’s self-esteem.
  4. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems: Imbalance in TMJ and jaw muscles can result in jaw pain, limited mouth movement, joint noises, headaches, earaches, and facial discomfort.
 
 

If the cause is removed like tongue thursting, thumb sucking etc then it can be treated naturally but in severe or persistent cases of open bite it is often require professional intervention. Orthodontic treatments like braces or other corrective measures might be necessary to properly align the teeth and jaws. Consulting with a dentist or orthodontist is crucial to determine the most effective treatment plan.

By identifying and eliminating the cause of the open bite, it becomes possible to implement the appropriate treatment plan. 

  1. Behavioral Habits: If the open bite is caused by habits like thumb sucking or using a pacifier, stopping these habits in children can often lead to the natural correction of the bite over time as the teeth and jaws align properly without the habit’s influence.

  2. Nasal Issues or Mouth Breathing: Addressing chronic mouth breathing or nasal problems can prevent further development of the open bite. Treating the root cause helps in allowing the proper growth and alignment of the teeth and jaws.

  3. Orthodontic Treatment: In cases where orthodontic treatment is necessary, such as the use of braces, these interventions can gradually move the teeth into their correct positions to close the open bite.

  4. Surgical Corrections: Severe cases that require surgical intervention due to significant skeletal issues can also lead to successful correction of the open bite once the surgery is performed.

Fixing an open bite isn’t always easy. It depends on why it happened and how severe it is. Simple cases caused by habits like thumb sucking might be easier to fix by stopping the habit. But when it’s more complex, like due to structural issues, it gets trickier. Skilled orthodontists work hard to create personalized plans to treat open bites effectively, considering both dental function and facial appearance. Even though it can be tough, with the right care and teamwork between the patient and the orthodontist, fixing open bites is possible, giving you a great smile and healthy teeth.

Here are some effective

 or devices to correct an open bite caused by thumb sucking.

  1. Thumb Guards or Appliances: These custom-made devices are placed in the mouth to prevent the thumb from reaching the roof of the mouth, making thumb sucking uncomfortable and less appealing.

  2. Habit breaker: These orthodontic devices are attached to the upper teeth and palate, creating a barrier that makes thumb sucking less satisfying or uncomfortable.

  3. Behavioral Techniques: Positive reinforcement methods, such as praise or rewards for not thumb sucking, can encourage children to stop the habit.

  4. Thumb Sucking Gloves or Covers: These coverings make it physically difficult or less enjoyable for the child to suck their thumb.

  5. Communication and Education: Talking to the child about the habit’s effects on their teeth and providing information in an age-appropriate manner can motivate them to stop.

  6. Regular Monitoring and Support: Regular check-ups with a dentist or orthodontist can track progress and provide encouragement and guidance throughout the habit-breaking process.

In some cases, however, particularly when associated with severe skeletal issues or if left untreated for an extended period, open bite might become more challenging to correct. It’s crucial to consult with a dentist or orthodontist to determine the specific factors influencing the open bite and to explore suitable treatment options.

Fixing an open bite primarily aims to align the teeth and improve the bite’s functionality rather than directly changing the face shape. However, in some cases, correcting an open bite can subtly influence facial appearance due to the realignment of teeth and jaws.

First Floor, 8th Commercial Street, hall no.1, Zamzama Commercial Area Defence V Karachi, Karachi City, Sindh 75600

For appointment & details

0314-4544626 (ILIIOCO)