open bite

Message

#1 Post by **mis b** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:51 pm

hay doc i've had braces for 9 months and a tongue rake habit appliance for about 4-5 months

{ can't really remember } anyway my orthodontist docter put the appliance on because she assumed it would close the openbite but it hasn't. my docter also said that the only way possible to close the openbite will be with surgery is their any other way????

#2 Post by **bbsadmin** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:06 pm

I'll jump in here.

It depends on the extent of your open bite. As I learned (because I used to have an open bite), most orthodontists consider this pretty hard to fix. If your open bite is rather extensive, you might indeed need surgery to properly fix it. Some open bites are worse than others. Fortunately mine was able to be corrected to some extent without surgery.

Have you had any other consultations? Before you go down the surgery road, please get at least 2 more opinions about your situation. Not every orthodontist handles things the same way.

#3 Post by **mis b** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:14 pm

wat did they do 2 close your openbite?

#4 Post by **lionfish** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:01 pm

Hi Misb, I had a fairly sizeable lateral open bite on both sides - I think 3-4mm - and it's being progressively closed with box elastics.

#5 Post by **xtrememkovr** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:04 am

I, too, have an open bite (sucked my thumb for many years). Surgery was never mentioned to me. I was told from one DR that I would have to wear elastics and headgear for about 1 year. This current doctor said that I'd have to wear elastics as well but no headgear and again, no mention of surgery. When my teeth are together I can put my tongue thru the opening of my front teeth - I'm not sure what the exact measurements are, but that is one question I plan on asking my DR when I see him on Friday to get banded.

X.

#6 Post by **mis b** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:14 am

thanks for the replys everyone but xtrememkover when did they put the headgear and elastics on at the beginning of treatment or at the end? and i also thought headgears were only for people with overbites. {please correct me if i'm wrong}

#7 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 11:55 am

I have a skeletal openbite and am having surgery to fix it. I'm not sure how big my openbite is but I know it's in excess of 5mm because that's the amount my upper jaw needs levelling by.

Your ortho knows best as he/she has actually seen you and treated you. If you're not happy about going down the surgical route you could ask what sort of compromise could be reached with orthodontics only or you could see another ortho for another opinion.

Good luck!

#8 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 11:55 am

Multiple post deleted.

#9 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 11:56 am

Multiple post deleted.

#10 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 11:56 am

Multiple post deleted.

#11 Post by **xtrememkovr** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:22 pm

mis b wrote:thanks for the replys everyone but xtrememkover when did they put the headgear and elastics on at the beginning of treatment or at the end? and i also thought headgears were only for people with overbites. {please correct me if i'm wrong}

hi mis b. I never had headgear - and I'll see about the elastics at my appointment on Friday. I was told about headgear at one consultation several years ago and my bite hasn't changed much since then. Not sure what the headgear was suppose to do - but my current dr made no mention of it at all - just elastics. I'll ask him when I talk to him on Friday (that is the date that I will FINALLY be banded!!

), however, and post pictures on the forum so you can see what I'm referring to when I mention my open bite.

X.

#12 Post by **fari670** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:47 pm

I also have open or closed bite and currently I am wearing expanders on the ceiling of my mouth , I dont know but I think it for my closed bite because my upper jaw is closed compared to my lower jaw :( I wanted to know how long should I be wearing these Quad helix - expanders? its my 3rd month already.

#13 Post by **CCinBraces** » Wed Jun 08, 2016 7:12 pm

I know this is old but--my ortho never even mentioned closing the open bite with elastics. Is that a fairly normal thing to do? I guess Im wondering why this hasn't been mentioned or attempted with me. Anyone else want to share their open bite experiences?

#14 Post by **Mimo1985** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 8:25 am

I have braces right now for a open bite of 2mm - I actually have photos of the progress on this website in "Our braces stories" I can post a link
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=50261

I was told one time by ONE ortho that I need surgery, but then several other orthos told me I did not need surgery and that they could fix it with braces - so I am going to agree with what everyone else said and say "it depends".

I think if you havent already - see other orthodontists and see what they can offer. Surgery might be the only option, but I would *definitely* get another opinion. Surgery Ive read can cost $20+K and more sometimes, so you really need to try and see if its really necessary.

Personally speaking, if I had 2 or 3 visits to orthos and they all said I need surgery, then I would consider that a done deal, but if only give one opinion - I would look for a second.

#15 Post by **Mimo1985** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 8:26 am

CCinBraces wrote:I know this is old but--my ortho never even mentioned closing the open bite with elastics. Is that a fairly normal thing to do? I guess Im wondering why this hasn't been mentioned or attempted with me. Anyone else want to share their open bite experiences?

It seems pretty standard from what I know of open bite and braces. I know for me personally, I have elastics going town in a triangle shape on both sides to start closing it. Its already gone down a little bit.

Metal Mouth Message Board

open bite

open bite

Re: open bite

Re: open bite

Re: open bite

Re: open bite