Open Bite: Causes and Orthodontic Fix

What it is

Front teeth don't touch when molars are together.

Causes

• Thumb sucking in childhood
• Tongue thrust habit
• Skeletal jaw discrepancy
• Previous orthodontic relapse

Treatment options

• Invisalign with elastics: mild cases
• Braces: moderate cases
• Habit breaking: essential in children
• Surgery + ortho: severe skeletal cases

Key: habit correction first

Without stopping thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, any correction will relapse.

Timeline

• Children: 12–18 months including habit correction
• Adults mild: 12 months
• Adults skeletal: 18–24 months + surgery

Practical decision guide

Orthodontics works by controlled tooth movement over time. The best plan balances alignment, bite correction, gum safety, compliance, and lifelong retention rather than chasing the shortest timeline.

Check this first

• Bite classification, crowding, gum thickness, jaw growth, wisdom teeth, and any history of relapse.
• Whether aligners, braces, expanders, elastics, or a combined cosmetic plan is most predictable.
• The retention plan after treatment, because teeth continue to move throughout life.

When to book sooner

• A child has crossbite, severe crowding, mouth-breathing habits, thumb sucking, trauma risk, or jaw asymmetry.
• Aligners are not tracking, attachments are lost, elastics are not being worn, or teeth feel unusually mobile.
• You are considering direct-to-consumer aligners without in-person periodontal and x-ray assessment.

Questions to ask at the appointment

• What is the real treatment goal: cosmetic alignment, bite correction, or both?
• How many refinement stages are included, and what happens if teeth do not track?
• Will I need fixed, removable, or combined retainers after treatment?

Dubai patient note

For Dubai orthodontic treatment, ask whether the provider is DHA-licensed as an orthodontist or is a general dentist providing aligners, and confirm what is included in the quoted fee.

References

• American Association of Orthodontists