Metal Mouth Message Board

It seems I've developed an open bite (in front) during my 3.5 months in braces. At my adjustment yesterday, the ortho started me in elastics to start working on that (along with my Class 2 malocclusion that was pre-existing).

Anyone else developed an open bite during braces treatment and/or know why that could happen? I'm perpetually curious, and my ortho is always so busy I tend not to bother him with my questions -- especially with all the knowledgeable folks on here!

Please post photos or links to photos if you can and of only your teeth.

How much of an open bite are we talking? Could just be your back molars lining up. Need more info

jfriend33 wrote:Please post photos or links to photos if you can and of only your teeth.

How much of an open bite are we talking? Could just be your back molars lining up. Need more info

It is not very open, not like most of the photos you see online of open bites, but a little more than when I started. I guess I actually had an open bite from day 1, but it has gotten more prominent lately. I suspect you're right about the back molars lining up. I haven't had a chance to take/upload photos in the past week, but will try to do so soon.

I developed an open bite about 4 months into braces. My ortho put me in a night time elastic box configuration. Had it for 3 months and it fixed my open bite beautifully.

Mpkh wrote:I developed an open bite about 4 months into braces. My ortho put me in a night time elastic box configuration. Had it for 3 months and it fixed my open bite beautifully.

Thank you, Mpkh! I checked out your blog and see where your open bite developed and was fixed. That is very encouraging!

My ortho didn't put me in the box elastics yet, but I'm amazed to see how much better my open bite is after just five days in a class 2 triangle elastics configuration. I just got elastics for the first time at my last appointment on Monday, Dec. 11th, and amazingly, my bite seems better already.

Here are my photos -- also for jfriend33, who asked about them.

Bite right before braces: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nir7280ikz6iuml/bite.JPG?dl=0

Bite one day after getting elastics (3.5 months in braces) -- this shows how much more open my bite had gotten in braces:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oc10jq58ckxd3 ... 1.JPG?dl=0

Bite five days after getting elastics: https://www.dropbox.com/s/031y2b3kmlp5k ... 1.JPG?dl=0

I forgot to mention in my original post above that I found out at my last appointment that I am thrusting my tongue on the back of my upper teeth when I swallow, which may be why the open bite developed. I am working on not doing that and trying to break the habit. I don't want to undo the orthodontia once I'm debraced, that's for sure.