An open bite refers to a vertical gap between upper and lower front teeth when biting down completely. A minor 1-2 mm gap is common temporarily during child development. More significant vertical spacing often requires treatment to close the open bite for proper speech, chewing and tooth longevity over a lifetime.
Genetics Jaw or tooth size-to-proportion skeletal mismatches passed down genetically frequently cause negative vertical overlap. Normal growth may self-correct minor gaps while more severe open bites tend to worsen over time.
Oral Habits Prolonged thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or persistent pacifier habits prevent upper teeth from descending naturally. Even after halting habits, bone maturity and locking in of aberrant positioning perpetuates open bite gaps.
Mouth breathing due to nasal obstructions redistributes proper tooth eruption forces. Plus lack of oxygen during sleep hinders complete jaw/tooth positioning. Treating breathing and airway functionality becomes paramount.
Periodontal Disease Untreated gum disease and associated bone loss around affected teeth allows pathologic tooth migration as anchors deteriorate. This further separates stable positioning of anterior teeth already complicated by open bite forces.
The most appropriate approach depends greatly on age, skeletal maturity, causative factors, and case severity. Custom treatment sequencing coordinated by your dentist provides the greatest probability of permanently resolving open bite gaps for improved aesthetics and stomatognathic health.
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