Open Bite Treatment: What It Is, What Causes It, and How Orthodontists Fix It

Open bite treatment is more accessible than many patients expect — and considerably less common to discuss than crowding or overbite, even though open bites are frequently diagnosed at Orthoworx. If you notice your front teeth do not touch when you bite down, or a dentist has flagged an open bite at a routine check-up, this guide covers everything you need to know: what open bite is, what causes it, and what your real treatment options are in Sydney.

At Orthoworx, Dr Eugene Chan treats open bites in both children and adults, using digital treatment planning to achieve predictable outcomes whether the case is dental or has a skeletal component.

What Is an Open Bite?

Open bite treatment begins with understanding what type of open bite is present. An open bite is classified by where the gap exists when the teeth are closed:

• Anterior open bite: The most common type. The upper and lower front teeth do not meet, leaving a visible gap. Often linked to thumb-sucking, tongue thrust, or skeletal jaw discrepancy.
• Posterior open bite: The back teeth do not meet on one or both sides. Less common; often skeletal in origin.

Open bite treatment also differs based on whether the cause is dental (tooth position and eruption) or skeletal (jaw bone discrepancy). This distinction drives the treatment plan entirely.

Dental vs Skeletal Open Bite: What Is the Difference?

A dental open bite results from tooth eruption patterns — individual teeth or groups of teeth that have not erupted to their ideal vertical position. These are correctable with orthodontic treatment alone. A skeletal open bite involves the vertical dimension of the jaw bones themselves, where the back of the jaws grow more than the front, tilting the bite open. Severe skeletal open bites in adults may require orthognathic surgery to achieve a stable result.

What Causes an Open Bite?

Open bite treatment planning always involves identifying the cause:

• Thumb-sucking or dummy use after age 4: Sustained pressure from finger or dummy pushes upper front teeth forward and prevents lower teeth from erupting fully
• Tongue thrust: A swallowing pattern where the tongue pushes between the front teeth, preventing them from meeting over time
• Mouth breathing: Habitual mouth breathing affects jaw development, often contributing to vertical jaw growth patterns that create an open bite
• Skeletal growth patterns: Some individuals are genetically predisposed to vertical jaw growth, which opens the bite regardless of habits
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) conditions: Joint degeneration or condylar resorption can cause progressive open bite development in adults

Signs You May Have an Open Bite

Open bite treatment is appropriate when:

• Your front teeth do not touch when you bite down on your back teeth
• You have difficulty biting into food (biting through a sandwich, for example)
• You have a lisp or speech difficulty related to airflow between front teeth
• You notice an unusual swallowing pattern (tongue protrudes between teeth when swallowing)
• Your tongue is visible between your front teeth even at rest

Open Bite Treatment Options by Age

Age Group	Best Open Bite Treatment	Key Advantage
Children (5–10)	Habit-breaking appliance, crib, or tongue reminder	Addresses the cause during jaw development
Teens (12–18)	Braces with vertical elastics, Invisalign	Growth can be redirected; strong response to treatment
Adults (18+)	Braces, Invisalign, or surgery (skeletal cases)	Dental open bites fully correctable; skeletal may need surgery

According to the Australian Society of Orthodontists, addressing habit-related open bites in childhood dramatically reduces the complexity of any subsequent orthodontic treatment.

Can Invisalign Fix an Open Bite?

Open bite treatment with Invisalign is highly effective for dental anterior open bites. Invisalign uses programmed tooth extrusion (pushing front teeth into better contact) and posterior intrusion (reducing over-eruption of back teeth) to close the vertical gap. Dr Chan, as a Diamond Invisalign provider with decades of complex case experience, regularly achieves open bite correction with Invisalign — including cases that other providers consider unsuitable for aligners. Skeletal open bites with significant jaw discrepancy remain better candidates for a combined surgical and orthodontic approach.

What Happens If an Open Bite Is Left Untreated?

• Difficulty biting and chewing: Front teeth cannot perform their intended function — biting into food — placing extra load on the back teeth
• Speech issues: A persistent lisp or airflow between front teeth can affect speech clarity
• Worsening over time: Tongue thrust habits perpetuate and deepen the open bite without intervention
• Temporomandibular dysfunction: Abnormal bite loads on the back teeth and jaw joint can lead to joint pain and clicking

Open Bite Treatment Cost in Australia

• Habit-breaking appliance (child): $800–$2,000
• Braces with open bite correction: $6,000–$9,000
• Invisalign with open bite correction: $6,500–$10,000
• Orthognathic surgery + orthodontics (skeletal): $20,000–$35,000+

Orthoworx offers interest-free payment plans and accepts private health insurance extras for orthodontic treatment.

Related Reading from Orthoworx

• Deep Bite Correction: What It Is and How Orthodontists Fix It
• Is Invisalign Suitable for Complex Orthodontic Cases?
• Braces at Orthoworx Sydney

Frequently Asked Questions

What is open bite treatment?

Open bite treatment corrects the gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are closed. Options include habit-breaking appliances in children, braces, Invisalign for teens and adults, and surgery for severe skeletal cases.

Can Invisalign fix an open bite?

Yes, for dental anterior open bites. Invisalign uses programmed tooth extrusion and posterior intrusion to close the vertical gap. Severe skeletal open bites may require surgery in conjunction with orthodontic treatment.

What causes an open bite?

Thumb-sucking or dummy use after age 4, tongue thrust habits, mouth breathing, and genetic skeletal growth patterns are the most common causes. Identifying the cause is essential for planning effective treatment.

How much does open bite treatment cost in Australia?

Braces or Invisalign for open bite correction typically costs $6,000-$10,000. Habit-breaking appliances for children start from $800. Surgical cases cost significantly more. Orthoworx offers interest-free payment plans.

What is the difference between a dental and skeletal open bite?

A dental open bite is caused by tooth position. A skeletal open bite involves the jaw bones themselves growing in a way that opens the bite. Dental open bites are correctable with orthodontics alone. Skeletal open bites may require surgery.

Can an open bite fix itself?

In young children, breaking the causative habit (thumb-sucking, tongue thrust) early may allow natural improvement. In older children and adults, the open bite will not self-correct and requires orthodontic intervention.

How long does open bite treatment take?

Habit-breaking appliances in children may be used for 6-12 months. Braces or Invisalign for open bite correction typically take 18-30 months depending on severity. Surgical cases require additional time for pre- and post-surgical orthodontics.

Does an open bite cause speech problems?

Yes. A gap between the front teeth can cause airflow issues affecting pronunciation of certain sounds, resulting in a lisp or other speech difficulty. Correcting the open bite often improves speech clarity.

Is open bite treatment covered by private health insurance in Australia?

Private health extras with orthodontic cover typically contribute toward open bite treatment costs. Check your annual and lifetime limits. Surgical components may attract additional Medicare and hospital fund benefits.

At what age should an open bite be treated?

As early as possible. Habit-related open bites in children aged 5-10 can often be resolved by breaking the habit before full dental development. Waiting until adulthood means the skeletal component may be more pronounced and harder to correct without surgery.