An open bite is a gap between the upper and lower teeth when the back teeth are closed. Long-term habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, jaw growth, or both usually cause it. Habit appliances, braces, aligners and sometimes jaw surgery can close it.
Open bites are less familiar than overbites or crossbites, but they can make biting into food, speaking clearly and keeping teeth healthy harder than it should be. This guide covers how to recognize one, why it develops and what treatment looks like at different ages.
What Is an Open Bite?
In a typical bite, the upper front teeth slightly overlap the lower front teeth when you close. With an open bite, some teeth do not touch at all, even when the rest of the mouth is closed.
Anterior open bite
This is the most common type. The back teeth meet, but the front teeth stay apart, leaving a visible gap. It is often linked to habits in childhood.
Posterior open bite
Here the front teeth meet but some back teeth do not. It is less common and can be related to teeth that did not fully erupt or to how the jaws developed.
Dental vs. skeletal open bite
A dental open bite comes from the position of the teeth themselves. A skeletal open bite comes from the shape and growth of the jaw bones. The difference matters, because it changes how the bite is treated. Our overview of overbites, underbites and crossbites explains how other bite problems compare.
Signs to look for at home
- The front teeth stay apart when your child bites down on the back teeth.
- Biting into food with the front teeth is difficult, so food is torn with the side teeth instead.
- The tongue rests between the front teeth or pushes forward during swallowing.
- A lisp or trouble with certain sounds that continues as permanent teeth come in.
- A thumb or finger habit that has not stopped by the time front permanent teeth erupt.
None of these signs means treatment is needed right away, but each is a good reason to have the bite checked.
What Causes an Open Bite?
Thumb, finger and pacifier habits
Constant pressure from a thumb, finger or pacifier can hold the front teeth apart and push them out of position while the jaw is still growing. Our interceptive orthodontics pages flag a thumb or finger habit past age five as a reason for an evaluation. See how thumb sucking and pacifiers affect teeth for more.
Tongue thrusting
Some children and adults push the tongue forward between the front teeth when they swallow or speak. Because people swallow many times a day, that gentle pressure adds up and can keep an open bite from closing.
Mouth breathing and airway
When the nose is blocked by allergies or enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a child may breathe through the mouth. Resting with the mouth open and the tongue low can influence how the face and jaws grow. Our article on mouth breathing and airway orthodontics for kids covers this connection.
Jaw growth and genetics
Some open bites are inherited and come from the way the jaws grow, not from a habit. These skeletal cases are more likely to need comprehensive treatment and, in adults, sometimes surgery.
Jaw joint problems
Less often, changes in the jaw joint can shift how the teeth meet and open the bite over time. An orthodontist will look at the joints as part of the exam.
What Problems Can an Open Bite Cause?
Biting and chewing
If the front teeth do not meet, it is hard to bite through a sandwich, an apple or a slice of pizza. The back teeth end up doing more of the work.
Speech
Some sounds, especially s and th, rely on the tongue and front teeth working together. An open bite can contribute to a lisp.
Wear and appearance
The teeth that do meet can take extra force and wear faster. Many people also feel self-conscious about the gap when they smile.
How Is an Open Bite Treated?
Treatment depends on the type of open bite, its cause and whether the jaws are still growing. A habit that is still active needs to stop first, or the bite tends to reopen.
Habit appliances for children
Devices like a thumb crib discourage thumb sucking and tongue thrusting, which protects jaw development and speech. Our orthodontic appliances page describes the habit appliances, expanders and space maintainers we use.
Early (Phase One) treatment
Between about ages seven and ten, early treatment can guide jaw growth while it is still happening. Appliances such as expanders, partial braces or clear aligners like Invisalign First may be used. Learn how two-phase treatment and our other specialty treatments fit together.
Braces or clear aligners
For dental open bites in teens and adults, braces or aligners can move the front teeth into contact. Elastics are often part of the plan. Traditional metal and clear ceramic braces and aligners can both work, depending on the case.
Surgical orthodontics for skeletal cases
When an adult’s open bite comes from the jaw bones themselves, moving the teeth alone may not be enough. In those cases, our orthodontists coordinate braces with an oral surgeon. Read about surgical orthodontics and jaw surgery to see how that process works.
Open Bite Treatment by Age
| Age group | Typical focus | Common tools |
|---|---|---|
| Young children | Stopping the habit and monitoring growth | Habit appliances, growth check-ins |
| Ages 7 to 10 | Guiding jaw growth early | Expanders, partial braces, Invisalign First |
| Teens | Closing the bite while growth finishes | Braces or aligners, often with elastics |
| Adults, dental open bite | Moving teeth into contact | Braces or clear aligners |
| Adults, skeletal open bite | Correcting the jaw relationship | Braces combined with jaw surgery |
What Happens at an Open Bite Consultation?
Your visit starts with a warm welcome and digital records. Our iTero scanner captures a 3D model of the teeth, and CBCT imaging is added when the jaws or joints need a closer look. One of our orthodontists then examines the bite, watches how the tongue and lips rest and move, and asks about habits, breathing and speech.
From there, the doctor explains whether the open bite looks dental, skeletal or both, whether any habit needs to be addressed first, and what a treatment plan would involve. For a young child, the answer may simply be to monitor growth with check-ins every six to twelve months. You will leave with clear next steps and no pressure.
Can an Open Bite Come Back After Treatment?
It can, particularly if a tongue thrust or other habit continues. That is why the cause is addressed during treatment, and why wearing your retainer as instructed matters. Our team follows up after braces or aligners come off to make sure the bite is holding.
When Should You See an Orthodontist for an Open Bite?
If you notice your child’s front teeth do not meet, or a thumb habit is continuing as permanent teeth arrive, an evaluation is worthwhile. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic visit around age seven. Adults can be evaluated at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Open Bites
Will a child’s open bite close on its own?
Sometimes a mild open bite improves once a thumb or pacifier habit stops early. If the habit continues or the bite is still open as permanent teeth come in, it is worth having an orthodontist take a look.
Can Invisalign fix an open bite?
Many dental open bites can be treated with clear aligners, sometimes with elastics. Skeletal open bites may need braces and, in adults, surgery. The doctors will tell you which approach fits your records.
Does every adult with an open bite need surgery?
No. Surgery is considered only when the jaw bones themselves are the main cause and orthodontics alone would not give a stable result.
Is an open bite related to speech therapy?
It can be. If tongue posture or a lisp is involved, coordinating with a speech or myofunctional specialist may help alongside orthodontic care. Our team works with other providers when a case calls for it.
Get Answers About Your Bite
Our board-certified orthodontists, Dr. Maslowski and Dr. Michel, evaluate open bites in children, teens and adults. Book a free consultation at our Oshkosh, Appleton or Wautoma office, or call or text (920) 231-4923. We will explain what is causing the gap and what it would take to close it.