Open Bite Treatment?

[ajs604]

Hi Natasha!I have started treatment to correct an open bite of approx 5-6 mm. Only my last molars touch. I was advised surgery but decided aginat it so am going the long haul instead . See my mini blog with some pictures. I am being treated with braces and an appliance fixed into my mouth with TAD's. Already noticed improvemnt. Due to start elastics soon. Any questions feel free to ask!

[Anna5]

I am also in treatment to fix/improve my crossbite and open bite with braces and I will soon be in elastics! I was recommended surgery (and I am still contemplating it), but for now I try the non surgical route first.

Does anyone have nice before-after pictures of a non surgically fix of an open bite, that would really encourage me!

[kreyFL]

I had a significant open bite (I want to say 5mm on the left side and 4mm on the right). My open bite is what prompted me to get braces and my ortho was somewhat hesitant about confirming my treatment path.

He mentioned LOOP (Kim) Wires as well as the potential for surgery. He really felt that if we were patient but aggressive we could by pass both options.

I posted my original story on here as well as my after pictures - you can probably find it by searching for my user name. EDIT: I posted again below with the links you need.

In the end, I had braces on for 24 months and 3 weeks, and I did NOT have the LOOP wires or surgery. My open bite is non existent and I sure as hell did not think it would be possible...it was pretty bad.

I could not open a packet of ketchup nor bite my nails (both bad habits I know but it was so frustrating that I couldnt do these things!)

I did have some issue with ROOT PROMINENCE because of how aggressive my ortho was with elastics and pulling my mouth together. It did not hurt, I just noticed these hard small lumps above my canines. A little tweaking, and a month extension on my time sorted this out.

I opted for the ESSEX retainers as this gives my bite a cushion - which will offer me a better chance at not having to deal with my open bite ever again. I just got moved from 24/7 retainer wear to night only (YAY!).

I honestly believe that if your ortho thinks it can be accomplished without surgery - then trust him. My ortho did say to me that it may not be "perfect" or "completely closed" well....to me, they are perfect and completely closed.

Unfortunately there is not a lot of info on this board about open bites - there are a few of us but all of our treatments were different. I have to say that I am 100% - shoot MORE THAN 100% - happy and satisfied with my orthodontic treatment and how my smile has turned out - and this is 9 months after I got those suckers off.

Please let me know if I can help in any way

[kreyFL]

Links to previous posts of mine that include pics:

7 months in includes open bite pics (none of my pics do my open bite justice - it was way worse than the photos show)

http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 13&t=39243


Braces are off/Before & After pics On pages 1 & 2:

http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 13&t=43251

[ajs604]

Hi thanks KreyFL is nice to know that someone else has been through something similar. I am only 6-7 weeks in and have no elactics yet but still very early days!!

Thanks again.

[Anna5]

Hello KreyFL and Asj604,

Thanks for your updates!
That is amazing, KreyFL, the progress you have made and this all without surgery!
This gives great hope for me and surely also for you, Asj604!

[kreyFL]

I can barely remember now - I had my uppers put on first, then lowers went on 7 months later...and then I had elastics about 3 months after that so almost a year into treatment before I had elastics. I had periods where my open bite seemed worse...I just tried to remain calm and really talk to my ortho every time I had a panic attack, lol.

I think all total, we did about 3 or 4 different elastic configurations throughout my treatment, and I do recall I had no elastics on the last 2-3 months of treatment. I remember when we first went of elastics I had some relapse in my open bite. We did manual tweaking and turning - the ortho wanted to make sure my teeth weren't remaining closed solely because of the elastics.

With an open bite, you HAVE to be DILIGENT with your elastics. (Even more so with your retainer) If you talk regularly, change your elastics every 2-3 hours. You always want to feel some tension.

Hope this helps!

[jenrocks4]

Thanks for your sharing your story, Kreyfl. I'm in the same boat as these folks with a 3-4mm open bite. I've had braces for almost 5 months, and will be getting elastics in the next month or two. Your pictures are amazing, I can only hope my teeth look that great! Just out of curiosity, did your ortho have any concerns about retaining your new closed bite? Do you grind or clinch your teeth (now that they all touch? My open bite was created from a poorly made night guard a dentist made for me 14 some years ago, so my ortho and I aren't concerned about retention. I'm really excited to be done, but have quite a ways to go.

[mbranc02]

Thank you all for this great information. I just had an unsettling visit with an ortho who couldn't give me much hope that any option would be permanent (I am a tongue-thruster, 2times previously in braces). I'm just completely overwhelmed!

[Peacegenuine123]

Damn why can't I see the pictures.