Malocclusion: open bite

With an open bite, the front teeth of the upper and lower jaw do not touch each other, even when you bite together. In extreme forms, only the rearmost back teeth touch when you bite.

Possible consequences if an open bite is not treated orthodontically:

• Dissatisfaction with appearance: Patients with an open bite often report problems with self-esteem, as there is a (sometimes very noticeable) gap between their upper and lower teeth.
• Lower jaw appears longer: Purely visually, the face can appear long.
• Inability to bite off food: An open bite prevents patients from biting and chewing food properly, which can lead to digestive problems in the long term.
• Jaw joint problems: In some cases, it can lead to overloading of the jaw joint. As a result, clicking or considerable pain can occur.
• Tooth wear: The overloading of the back teeth increases the loss of tooth enamel, which often makes costly dental restorations necessary later on.
• Speech problems: An open bite can cause various speech problems, in addition to involuntary spitting when speaking.

We therefore recommend that you have your open bite assessed at the Eltz Institut during an initial consultation, with no obligation!

Recommended treatment method

Depending on the severity, purely orthodontic treatment (aligner treatment or fixed braces) or combined orthodontic and surgical treatment may be appropriate. The rule of thumb is: the fewer teeth touch when you bite together, the more difficult the treatment. If only individual teeth have no contact, purely orthodontic treatment usually achieves the goal. Depending on the complexity, treatment takes between 6 and 24 months.

The next step

Treating an open bite can be complex and requires high-quality orthodontics. The Eltz Institut specialises in treating open bites and has many years of experience, including with complex cases. If you have an open bite, we warmly recommend a free consultation.