Key Takeaways

• Early intervention by age 7 is recommended to catch open bite issues before they become harder to treat; early appliances like bonded spurs can improve bite by 2.8-4.9mm on average.

• Identify root causes like thumb sucking past age 4-5, tongue thrusting, and mouth breathing rather than just treating tooth position, as this prevents relapse after treatment.

• Anterior open bites (visible front tooth gaps) respond well to braces or clear aligners in 12-18 months, while skeletal cases may require jaw surgery taking 2-3 years total.

• Use retainers consistently after treatment and attend follow-up visits, as open bite has a high relapse tendency if the underlying habit or jaw issue isn't addressed long-term.

• Seek professional evaluation if your child can't close their mouth fully, has speech problems, struggles with chewing, or shows signs of mouth breathing, since 16.5% of children have some form of open bite.

• Adults can successfully treat open bites at any age through dental approaches like braces or aligners; even severe cases are manageable with coordinated orthodontic and surgical care.

Do your front teeth stay apart even when you bite down? Maybe you’ve noticed your child can’t quite close their mouth all the way, even when they try. This is called an open bite, and it’s more common than you might think. Around 4.93% of people worldwide deal with some form of open bite, and some studies of children show numbers as high as 16.5%. The good news? An experienced orthodontist for open bite can help fix this issue at almost any age.

At Brockway Orthodontics in Clearwater, Florida, we see families every week who are worried about gaps between their teeth, speech troubles, or chewing problems caused by open bites. This guide walks you through the clearest signs you need professional help, what causes an open bite, and how treatment actually works. Let’s get you or your child on the path to a healthier, more confident smile.

What Is an Open Bite, Exactly?

An open bite happens when your upper and lower teeth don’t touch when your mouth is closed. There are two main types:

• Anterior open bite: The front teeth don’t meet, leaving a gap you can often see when someone smiles or talks.
• Posterior open bite: The back teeth fail to touch, which is less noticeable but still affects chewing.

Both types can cause real problems beyond appearance. They can affect how you eat, speak, and even how your jaw feels day to day. Left untreated, an open bite can lead to uneven tooth wear and extra stress on certain teeth.

7 Signs You Should See an Orthodontist for Open Bite

Not sure if your situation needs professional care? Here are seven clear signs it’s time to book a visit.

1. Your Front Teeth Never Touch When You Bite Down

This is the most obvious sign of an anterior open bite. If you close your mouth naturally and there’s still a gap between your top and bottom front teeth, that’s your cue to get checked out.

2. Your Child Has a Long-Term Thumb-Sucking or Pacifier Habit

Prolonged thumb sucking, pacifier use, or finger habits are some of the top causes of open bite in kids. If your child is still sucking their thumb past age 4 or 5, it’s worth a conversation with an orthodontist about how it might be affecting their bite. Our Early Treatment program is designed specifically for situations like this.

3. You Notice Tongue Thrusting or Unusual Swallowing Patterns

Does your tongue push against or between your front teeth when you swallow? This habit, called tongue thrusting, is a major contributor to open bite. It can keep teeth from settling into a normal bite position, even after other habits stop.

4. Chewing or Biting Food Feels Difficult

An open bite can make it hard to bite into a sandwich or chew certain foods properly. If mealtime feels like a struggle, your bite alignment could be the culprit.

5. Speech Sounds Are Affected

Some people with open bites develop a lisp or have trouble pronouncing certain sounds, especially “s” and “th” sounds. This happens because the tongue doesn’t have the right support from the teeth.

6. Mouth Breathing or Snoring Is a Regular Issue

Airway problems and mouth breathing are often linked to open bite development. If your child breathes through their mouth most of the time, it’s worth mentioning during your consultation, since it may point to a related concern.

7. Your Bite Looks Like It’s Getting Worse Over Time

Open bites don’t usually fix themselves once a child is past the toddler years. If you’ve noticed the gap growing or new teeth coming in without touching, don’t wait to get an evaluation.

What Causes an Open Bite?

Open bite rarely comes from just one cause. It’s usually a mix of habits, genetics, and growth patterns. Common contributors include:

• Prolonged thumb or finger sucking
• Extended pacifier use beyond toddler years
• Tongue thrusting or poor tongue posture
• Chronic mouth breathing or airway blockages
• Abnormal tooth eruption patterns
• Skeletal growth differences in the jaw

Because so many factors can play a role, a proper diagnosis matters. This is where a trained orthodontist really earns their keep.

How Orthodontists Diagnose an Open Bite

When you visit for an evaluation, the orthodontist looks at much more than just your teeth. Here’s what a thorough diagnosis typically includes:

1. Visual exam: Checking how your teeth meet and where gaps appear.
2. Digital scans or impressions: Creating a 3D model of your teeth and bite.
3. X-rays: Panoramic and cephalometric images show how the jaw and teeth are positioned.
4. Habit and speech review: Discussing any thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or speech concerns.
5. Airway assessment: Looking for signs of mouth breathing or airway obstruction.
6. Referral if needed: Sometimes an ENT specialist, myofunctional therapist, or oral surgeon gets involved for complex cases.

This step-by-step process helps your orthodontist figure out if your open bite is mainly dental (caused by tooth position) or skeletal (caused by jaw structure). That distinction changes the whole treatment plan.

Treatment Options for Open Bite

The right treatment depends on your age, the severity of the open bite, and what’s causing it. Here’s a breakdown of common approaches:

Treatment Option	Best For	How It Works
Habit-breaking appliances	Young children with thumb-sucking habits	Palatal cribs or spurs discourage the habit while teeth adjust
Tongue-control therapy	Kids and adults with tongue thrusting	Myofunctional exercises retrain tongue posture
Braces	Dental open bites in teens and adults	Brackets and wires gradually move teeth into contact
Clear aligners	Mild to moderate dental open bites in adults and teens	Custom trays shift teeth in small, controlled steps
Elastics or functional appliances	Growing patients with jaw discrepancies	Guide jaw growth and improve tooth contact
Temporary anchorage devices (TADs)	Complex dental open bites	Small anchors help move teeth vertically for better contact
Orthognathic jaw surgery	Severe skeletal open bites in adults	Repositions the jaw, often paired with braces before and after

A 2025 review of clinical studies found that early interventions like bonded spurs and palatal cribs improved overbite measurements by 2.8 to 4.9 millimeters on average. That’s a meaningful change, especially for young patients still growing.

Will an Open Bite Fix Itself?

Sometimes, yes—especially in young kids. If a child stops thumb sucking early enough, mild open bites can improve naturally as permanent teeth come in. But this isn’t guaranteed, and it doesn’t apply to skeletal open bites or cases involving ongoing tongue thrusting.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends kids have their first orthodontic check-up by age 7. This gives your orthodontist a chance to catch open bite issues early, before they become harder to treat.

Can Adults Get Open Bite Treatment Too?

Absolutely. Many adults come to us wondering if it’s “too late” to fix an open bite. In most cases, it’s not. If the open bite is primarily dental, braces or adult clear aligner treatment can work well. Severe skeletal cases might need a combined approach with jaw surgery, but our team coordinates every step of that journey with you.

Why Preventing Relapse Matters

Open bite has a well-known tendency to come back after treatment if the root cause isn’t addressed. That’s why we don’t just move your teeth and call it done. Successful treatment usually involves:

• Correcting the tooth position with braces or aligners
• Managing habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting
• Coordinating with myofunctional therapy when needed
• Using retainers consistently after treatment
• Attending regular follow-up visits to catch any shifting early

Skipping the retention phase is one of the biggest reasons open bites relapse. We always build a long-term plan, not just a quick fix.

How Long Does Open Bite Treatment Take?

Treatment time varies quite a bit based on your specific case. Here’s a general idea:

1. Mild dental open bites: Often 12–18 months with braces or aligners.
2. Moderate cases involving habits: 18–24 months, including habit correction and tooth movement.
3. Skeletal open bites needing surgery: Can take 2–3 years total, including pre-surgical orthodontics and healing time.

Your orthodontist will give you a clearer timeline once your first visit and full evaluation are complete.

What Does Treatment Cost?

Cost depends on the complexity of your case, the type of appliance used, and whether surgery is involved. Simple habit-correcting appliances tend to cost less than full braces or aligner treatment. Surgical cases involve additional costs tied to the surgical team and hospital fees. We always walk patients through financing and insurance options so you know what to expect before starting.

Why Choose Brockway Orthodontics in Clearwater?

Dr. Brockway has built her practice around one simple idea: every patient deserves personalized, caring treatment. Whether you’re bringing in your 7-year-old for their first check-up or you’re an adult ready to finally fix a long-standing bite issue, our team takes time to explain your options clearly. We use digital scans instead of messy molds, and our 3D imaging technology helps us plan treatment with real precision.

We proudly offer Spark™ Clear Aligners as an affordable option for correcting open bites discreetly, along with traditional metal braces and ceramic braces for patients who prefer a more classic approach. No matter which path fits your life best, our goal stays the same: a healthy, confident smile that lasts.

Curious what other patients think? You can visit us on Google — Brockway Orthodontics to read real reviews from families across Clearwater. You can also connect with us on Facebook or follow along on Instagram for smile transformation stories and tips.

Trusted Resources for Open Bite Information

If you want to do more reading before your visit, the American Dental Association offers solid general guidance on bite issues and oral health. For orthodontic-specific concerns in our state, the Florida Association of Orthodontists is a great resource for finding qualified specialists and learning more about treatment standards.

Ready to Get Your Bite Checked?

An open bite doesn’t have to affect your confidence, your speech, or your ability to enjoy your favorite foods. Whether you’re a parent noticing early signs in your child or an adult ready to finally address a lifelong bite issue, our team at Brockway Orthodontics is here to help. We treat patients of every age with the same warmth, patience, and expertise that has made us a trusted name in Clearwater orthodontic care.

Ready to take the next step? Book your free consultation online today, and let’s talk about the best path forward for your smile. Have questions first? Feel free to reach out to our friendly team anytime.

FAQs

Q: What type of orthodontist treats an open bite?

A: Any licensed, experienced orthodontist can treat an open bite, but you’ll want one who evaluates the root cause, not just the teeth. At Brockway Orthodontics, we look at habits, jaw growth, and tongue posture before building your treatment plan, so we can address the real problem, not just the symptoms.

Q: Can braces fix an anterior open bite?

A: Yes, braces work great for many anterior open bite cases, especially when the issue is mainly dental rather than skeletal. We often pair braces with elastics or habit correction to get the best, longest-lasting results for our patients.

Q: Will an open bite correct itself after thumb sucking stops?

A: Sometimes, especially in younger kids whose permanent teeth haven’t fully come in yet. But we always recommend a check-up to be sure, since some open bites need a little extra help even after the habit stops.

Q: Do I need jaw surgery for a severe open bite?

A: Only in cases where the open bite is skeletal, meaning it’s caused by how the jaw itself grew. For these situations, we coordinate braces before and after surgery to get you the most stable, comfortable results possible.

Q: How much does orthodontic treatment for an open bite cost?

A: Costs vary based on your specific case, the appliances needed, and whether surgery is involved. We’re happy to walk you through financing and insurance options during your consultation, so there are no surprises along the way.