Palm Beach Orthodontics: Closing the Bite Is Only Part of the Treatment
An open bite may look simple: the upper and lower teeth don’t meet when you bite down.
But successfully treating an open bite is rarely as simple as closing the space.
At Palm Beach Orthodontics, Dr. Angela Abiusi begins by determining why the open bite exists in the first place. Is it primarily related to tooth position? Jaw growth? A vertical skeletal pattern? Tongue posture or function? A previous oral habit? Or a combination of factors?
That distinction matters because two patients can appear to have very similar open bites and require completely different treatment plans.
And with an open bite, there is another critical consideration:
It’s not enough to close the bite. We want to create a result that is functional, balanced, beautiful, and as stable as possible for the long term.
Dr. Angela is a board-certified orthodontist for open bites in Palm Beach, with more than 20 years of experience treating complex orthodontic problems. At Palm Beach Orthodontics, every treatment plan is personally designed and monitored by her from beginning to end.
What Is an Open Bite?
An open bite occurs when certain upper and lower teeth do not make contact when the mouth is closed.
Most commonly, patients notice an anterior open bite, where the front teeth don’t overlap or touch even though the back teeth may come together.
Depending on its severity and underlying cause, an open bite can affect more than appearance. It may influence:
- Biting and chewing
- Speech
- Tooth wear
- Tongue function and posture
- The way the upper and lower teeth work together
- Facial and smile aesthetics
That is why treating an open bite requires more than looking at the visible space between the teeth.
We have to understand the entire system creating it.
Dental vs. Skeletal Open Bite
One of the first questions Dr. Angela considers is whether the open bite is primarily dental, skeletal, or a combination of both.
A dental open bite may be related predominantly to the position of the teeth and surrounding oral environment.
A skeletal open bite can involve the underlying growth and relationship of the jaws and the vertical proportions of the face.
That distinction can significantly influence treatment.
Some open bites can be treated orthodontically with braces or clear aligners. More significant skeletal discrepancies in adults may require a different approach and, in certain cases, collaboration with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
The important point is that open bite treatment should begin with diagnosis, not with choosing an appliance.
Why Did the Open Bite Develop?
Open bites can have several contributing factors.
They may be associated with genetics and facial growth patterns, prolonged thumb or finger habits, tongue posture or function, tooth eruption patterns, jaw relationships, or other developmental factors.
In growing children, identifying contributing habits or functional patterns early can be especially important.
In adults, Dr. Angela looks carefully at both the existing bite and the underlying factors that could affect treatment stability.
Simply moving the teeth together without understanding why they were apart can overlook one of the most important parts of treatment.
Open Bite Treatment at Palm Beach Orthodontics
There is no single appliance that is automatically “best” for an open bite.
Depending on the diagnosis, open bite treatment in Palm Beach may involve braces, clear aligners, elastics, growth-related treatment in younger patients, other orthodontic mechanics, or, in appropriate severe skeletal cases, orthodontic treatment combined with jaw surgery.
The appliance is a tool.
The treatment plan is what determines how that tool is used.
Dr. Angela evaluates the bite, facial proportions, growth pattern (when applicable), tooth position, smile aesthetics, and long-term treatment goals before recommending an approach.
Braces for Open Bite Treatment
Braces can provide excellent three-dimensional control of tooth movement and may be particularly useful in open bite cases requiring precise coordination of the upper and lower arches.
But even with braces, successful treatment isn’t simply a matter of putting brackets on the teeth and waiting for the bite to close.
Bracket positioning, mechanics, vertical control, elastics when indicated, and careful finishing all influence the final result.
At Palm Beach Orthodontics, Dr. Angela personally evaluates the progression of the bite throughout treatment and makes adjustments based on how the individual patient responds.
Clear Aligners for Open Bite Treatment
Clear aligners can also be an effective option for selected open bite patients.
At Palm Beach Orthodontics, Dr. Angela uses Spark™ Clear Aligners when aligner therapy is appropriate.
Digital planning can be extremely useful, but an image on a computer screen is a treatment simulation, not the treatment itself.
Dr. Angela determines which movements are biologically and mechanically appropriate, monitors how the teeth actually respond, and modifies treatment when necessary.
That distinction becomes especially important in more complex bite correction.
Technology is a powerful tool. The orthodontist is still responsible for the diagnosis, biomechanics, and result.
Open Bite Treatment in Children
When an open bite appears in a growing child, timing can matter.
Dr. Angela evaluates not only the teeth but also growth and development, oral habits, tongue function and posture, and the relationship of the jaws.
In some children, early intervention may help address contributing factors while growth is still occurring. In other cases, observation may be more appropriate until the child reaches a different stage of dental development.
Early evaluation does not automatically mean early treatment.
It means having an orthodontist determine whether treatment is needed and when it will be most effective.
Open Bite Treatment in Adults
Adults with an open bite sometimes assume that jaw surgery is their only option.
That isn’t always the case.
Advances in orthodontic treatment and biomechanics mean that some adult open bites can be treated without surgery. However, significant skeletal open bites may still be best treated with a combined orthodontic and surgical approach.
Dr. Angela evaluates each patient individually and explains what can realistically be accomplished with orthodontics alone and when another approach should be considered.
The goal is not to promise the easiest treatment.
The goal is to recommend the right treatment.
Why Stability Matters in Open Bite Treatment
With an open bite, finishing treatment is not the end of the conversation.
Long-term stability matters.
Because open bites may involve multiple dental, skeletal, growth, habit, and functional factors, Dr. Angela considers stability throughout treatment planning, not just when the braces or aligners come off.
Retention is important after orthodontic treatment, and the specific retention strategy should reflect the individual patient’s original diagnosis and treatment.
A beautiful result on the day treatment ends is important.
A result designed with the future in mind is even better.
Why Experience Matters
Open bite treatment is an area where orthodontic experience and clinical judgment can make an enormous difference.
Dr. Angela has been creating smiles and treating complex bites for more than 20 years. As a board-certified orthodontist, she personally diagnoses, treatment plans, and follows her patients throughout their orthodontic journey.
At Palm Beach Orthodontics, you aren’t treatment-planned by one person and routinely managed by a rotating series of providers.
You see Dr. Angela at every appointment.
That continuity allows her to watch subtle changes in the bite, tooth position, smile, and facial relationships as treatment progresses and make adjustments when necessary.
For a complex problem like an open bite, those details matter.
Open Bite Treatment in Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach
Palm Beach Orthodontics provides personalized open bite treatment for children, teens, and adults at our Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach locations.
Whether an open bite is primarily dental, skeletal, developmental, habit-related, or multifactorial, treatment begins by understanding its cause.
From there, Dr. Angela develops a plan designed around the individual patient, not a standard protocol.
Because the objective isn’t simply to make the front teeth touch.
It’s to create a healthy, functional, stable bite and a beautiful smile that works together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Causes An Open Bite?
An open bite can have several contributing factors, including genetics, facial and jaw growth patterns, tooth position, prolonged thumb or finger habits, tongue posture or function, and developmental factors. Some open bites have more than one cause, which is why an orthodontic diagnosis is important before treatment begins.
Can An Open Bite Be Corrected Without Surgery?
Yes, open bite correction in Palm Beach is sometimes possible without surgery using braces, clear aligners, or other orthodontic mechanics. However, severe skeletal open bites in adults may sometimes be best treated with a combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. Dr. Angela evaluates the underlying cause and severity before recommending treatment.
Can Clear Aligners Fix An Open Bite?
Yes, clear aligners can be effective for certain open bites. At Palm Beach Orthodontics, Dr. Angela uses Spark™ Clear Aligners when aligner treatment is appropriate. Successful correction depends on proper diagnosis, treatment planning, biomechanics, patient cooperation, and careful monitoring, not simply the aligner itself.
Can Braces Fix An Open Bite?
Yes. Braces can provide precise control over tooth movement and are an excellent treatment option for many open bite cases. The exact mechanics depend on whether the open bite is primarily dental, skeletal, or a combination of factors.
Can An Open Bite Come Back After Orthodontic Treatment?
Open bites can have a risk of relapse, particularly when contributing growth, functional, or habit-related factors remain. This is why Dr. Angela considers the cause of the open bite, treatment mechanics, finishing, and retention when planning for long-term stability.
Should A Child’s Open Bite Be Treated Early?
Sometimes, but not every child with an open bite needs immediate treatment. Dr. Angela evaluates dental development, growth, habits, tongue function and posture, and jaw relationships to determine whether early intervention would be beneficial or whether observation is more appropriate.
What Happens If An Open Bite Isn’t Treated?
The effects depend on the type and severity of the open bite. Some patients may experience difficulty biting into foods, altered chewing patterns, speech concerns, uneven tooth contacts, or aesthetic concerns. An orthodontic evaluation can determine whether treatment is recommended.
Why Choose Palm Beach Orthodontics For Open Bite Treatment?
Open bite orthodontic treatment requires careful diagnosis, biomechanics, finishing, and attention to long-term stability. Dr. Angela Abiusi is a board-certified orthodontist with more than 20 years of experience, and she personally oversees treatment at every appointment. Patients receive consistent, doctor-led orthodontic care from diagnosis through their final result.