Open Bite Dental Clinic Orthodontic Before and After: Did a Long-Looking Jaw Become Shorter?

Hello.

This is Ceramic Dental Clinic at Hakdong Station.

Many people are worried because their jaw looks unusually long.

Even if you have tried several methods to improve it and nothing has changed, the cause may actually be your teeth.

It is especially closely related to 'open bite,' where the front teeth do not properly meet.

Today, through an actual orthodontic case, we will show you how much the jaw line and facial proportions can change with orthodontic treatment alone, using example photos of that change 😁

1. What Is an Open Bite?

In normal occlusion, when you close your mouth naturally, the upper and lower teeth interlock, and the upper teeth slightly cover the lower teeth.

(See the photo below⬇️)

[Normal occlusion]

An open bite is called an Open Bite. It refers to a condition in which, when the teeth are closed naturally, the upper teeth do not cover the lower teeth, and a gap forms between the upper and lower teeth.

[Open bite]

If the molars do not touch when the mouth is closed, it is classified as a 'posterior open bite.'

If the front teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed, it is classified as an 'anterior open bite.'

In general, cases where the front teeth do not touch are more common.

2. Causes of Open Bite:

Genetics / Skeletal problems / TMJ disorders / Bad habits

Open bite can occur due to the following factors.

1. Genetic factors

2. Skeletal problems

(excessive growth of the lower jaw, or insufficient growth of the upper jaw)

3. Degenerative changes in the lower jaw caused by temporomandibular joint disorders

4. Habits during childhood and adolescence such as thumb sucking,

mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, and resting the chin on the hand

3. Problems Caused by Open Bite:

Aesthetic issues / Functional issues / Problems that worsen if left untreated

▶ Direct problems

It is often accompanied by protruding teeth, which can become an aesthetic concern, or the lower jaw may look short because it is pushed backward, and if the lower gum has dropped vertically downward, the lower jaw may even appear longer than it actually is.

If the open bite is severe, you cannot cut food with your front teeth, it becomes difficult to close your mouth, leading to mouth breathing, and the inside of the mouth can become dry or speech can sound unclear, so there are quite a few immediate inconveniences.

▶ Problems that can worsen if left untreated

If you leave it untreated thinking the immediate discomfort is not severe, it can make the following problems worse.

(1) Tooth wear

As strong force is applied only to certain teeth that contact each other, the wear of those teeth can become severe.

(2) Worsening of the temporomandibular joint

Because the teeth do not fit together properly, uneven force is applied to the jaw, and the temporomandibular joint can worsen.

(3) Changes in facial appearance

If the position of the jaw changes and the jaw moves backward, it can look like a recessed chin, and if the jaw moves downward, it can look like a prognathic jaw.

4. Open Bite Orthodontic Before and After Case

The subject of today's open bite orthodontic before and after case had front teeth that were quite tilted and irregular, which was a concern, and visited Ceramic Dental Clinic at Hakdong Station, a dental clinic specializing in orthodontics.

(1) Profile of the Open Bite and Protruding Front Teeth Orthodontic Before-and-After Case

▶️ Age when orthodontic treatment started: mid-20s ▶️ Reason for starting orthodontic treatment: irregular dentition ▶️ Expected treatment period: 18–20 months ▶️ Treatment method: non-extraction, ceramic braces

(2) Detailed treatment plan for open bite, protruding front teeth, and irregular dentition

A. Diagnosis of problems

① Irregular dentition

② Open bite

③ Protruding teeth

B. Treatment method

It was diagnosed that irregular dentition and open bite could be sufficiently improved with non-extraction orthodontic treatment,

and a tongue-thrust prevention device was attached to improve the tongue-thrusting habit.

Mini-screws are used to move the teeth and gums overall inward.

(3) Orthodontic treatment results for open bite, protruding front teeth, and irregular dentition

(Actual orthodontic treatment period: 20 months)

① Improvement in irregular dentition

The overall crooked bite and tilted teeth became aligned.

② Improvement in open bite

As shown below, you can more clearly see that the open bite has improved.

③ Improvement in protruding teeth

Through the side and semi-side photos, you can see that the protruding gums and teeth have moved inward.

④ The long-looking lower jaw became more balanced

※ Orthodontic treatment does not make the jawbone actually shorter.

To bring the lower gum that had dropped downward back to its normal position, the entire jawbone is slightly pulled upward, which makes the long-looking lower jaw appear shorter.

Since not all open bites are the same, the treatment direction and results vary depending on the cause.

In a case opposite to the treatment example in this post, there is also a case in which a person with an open bite and a short-looking lower jaw received orthodontic treatment at Ceramic Dental Clinic, a dental clinic specializing in orthodontics, and the lower jaw came to look beautifully longer.

Today, we looked at the concept, causes, and problems of open bite, as well as orthodontic before-and-after cases!

Open bite is not just an aesthetic issue, but can also lead to various functional problems.

If you are concerned about open bite? Please consult directly with an orthodontic specialist~✨

At Ceramic Dental Clinic, medical staff from top-ranked universities in Korea provide treatment, and all orthodontic doctors are certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as "specialists in orthodontics."

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