An open bite happens when the upper and lower front teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed, even while the back teeth meet normally. It is often caused by prolonged thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or the natural way the jaw develops during childhood. Left untreated, it can make biting into food harder, affect speech, and put extra wear on the back teeth over time.
Clear aligners can be an effective way to correct a mild to moderate open bite. Each tray in the series applies gentle, steady pressure that gradually guides the front teeth back into contact with each other. Many patients also wear small tooth colored attachments or elastics for part of treatment, which give the aligners extra leverage to close the gap fully.
Not every open bite responds the same way to aligners. When the issue mainly comes from tooth position, aligners usually work very well on their own. When the open bite is caused by how the jawbones themselves grew, correcting it may call for a combination of aligners, other orthodontic appliances, or in some cases a referral for jaw surgery. That is why a thorough evaluation matters before any treatment begins.
At Oasis Dental in Aurora, our orthodontic team uses digital scans and a full bite analysis to determine whether clear aligners are the right fit for your open bite, or whether another approach would serve you better. Call us at (720) 680-2688 or schedule online to set up a consultation and get a treatment plan built around your smile.