Open bite

Common questions about open bite

What causes an open bite?

An anterior open bite is a vertical gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth touch. Causes include prolonged thumb or pacifier use, chronic mouth breathing, low tongue posture, tongue thrust during swallow, and skeletal growth patterns. In children, habits are the most common contributor. In adults, open bite is often the result of long-standing habits that were not addressed during growth.

Can an open bite be corrected without surgery?

For mild to moderate cases — especially those driven by habits and tongue posture — orthodontic treatment combined with myofunctional therapy can close or substantially reduce an open bite without surgery. For skeletal cases with significant jaw discrepancy, surgery may be the most predictable option. A thorough evaluation with an orthodontist and a myofunctional assessment together is the best way to find out.

Does myofunctional therapy help close an open bite?

Myofunctional therapy addresses the muscle and habit drivers of open bite — tongue posture, tongue thrust, and habits like thumb or pacifier use. Therapy on its own does not move teeth. The most predictable results come from therapy combined with orthodontic treatment, with myofunctional therapy starting before or alongside orthodontics and continuing through retention. See our Pre- and Post-Orthodontic Support (/services#pre-post-orthodontic) service.

What is the best treatment for an open bite in Louisville?

The best treatment depends on the cause. For habit-driven open bite (thumb sucking, pacifier use, tongue thrust) in children, myofunctional therapy combined with habit elimination can often close the open bite without orthodontic treatment, or significantly reduce the severity so orthodontics is shorter and more stable. For skeletal open bite in adults, coordinated orthodontic treatment — sometimes with surgery — is typically the right approach, with myofunctional therapy supporting retention. At 502 MYO in Louisville, we work with children and adults on the muscle-and-habit side and coordinate with orthodontists across Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Can a tongue thrust cause an open bite?

Yes — a persistent tongue thrust (where the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth during swallowing) is one of the most common causes of anterior open bite. The constant forward pressure, repeated thousands of times per day during swallowing, gradually prevents the front teeth from fully erupting and meeting. Treating the tongue thrust is essential for the open bite to remain closed after orthodontic treatment.

My child has an open bite from pacifier use. What should we do?

Step one is to wean the pacifier (typically by age 2-3 to prevent further development, by age 4 to address existing issues). Step two is myofunctional therapy to address the tongue thrust and low tongue posture that developed during pacifier use. Step three is orthodontic evaluation to see whether the open bite is closing on its own with growth and therapy, or whether active orthodontic treatment is needed. Many children in the Louisville area resolve habit-driven open bites with therapy alone if the habit is addressed early enough. We coordinate with your pediatric dentist and orthodontist throughout.