Recently Answered Questions
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I feel a lump on my jaw, making my teeth move. Do I need surgery?
Query: Hello doctor,Back of my jaw has a bump, and my teeth seem to be shifting. Do I need jaw surgery to fix my open bite? Kindly advice. Read Full »
Answer: Hello doctor, The bump developed seems to be on your cheeks from the photo you shared (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Also, your lower second molars are erupting now, so the pain can be due to the eruption of that tooth. Even due to new tooth eruption, you may bite your cheek whil... Read Full »
Why do my gums change its color from pink to dark with white spots after open bite surgery?
Query: Hi doctor, I have a question about my gums. I had a jaw surgery for an open bite a few years ago and the gums were all pink and normal looking a few months ago. Now they have a lot of white on the upper gums with the area slightly above the gum line being the non-whitened and discolored part. I h... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The gums looked blanched or whitish due to lesser blood circulation and less inflammation than before. There is no need to worry as it occurs as the gums are completely healed and also could happen due to decreased blood pressure and complete healing of inflammation... Read Full »
How long does it take to correct an open bite with braces?
Query: Hi doctor, I have a quite wide open bite. I am 24 years old and want to get them fixed with braces. The open bite is so big that I can thrust a pencil in my mouth with my teeth closed. I have attached a photo for your reference. Will it require surgery or can it be fixed with braces? How long will i... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen the picture you have attached (attachment removed to protect patient identity). The open bite can be corrected effectively with braces treatment. Surgery would not be a choice for this type of bite correction. The braces treatment will take approximately one... Read Full »
I want to correct the open bite by retaining the front teeth spacing. Is that possible?
Query: Hi doctor, I have a moderate open bite that I would like to fix through braces or aligners. However, I would like to retain the gap (3 mm) between my front teeth. Would this be possible? Please suggest to me, doctor. Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, treatment of open bite is possible with both aligners and braces. As you mentioned that it is about 3 mm, I would suggest you can try for aligners. If it had been severe, I would have suggested only braces and not aligners, as I feel it might not be that efficient.... Read Full »
Can pacifiers result in an open bite in toddlers?
Query: Hi doctor, I am a mother, and my toddler had developed an open bite. After some research, I discovered her pacifier was the reason for the open bite. So I need to know what materials will not pressure my toddler's teeth. I am currently thinking of silicone, so I need to confirm it. For example, if I... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Well, I would like to know your daughter's age and how many months or years she has been using pacifiers? The pacifiers do negatively affect the jaws and dentition of the child, but that is reversible up to certain age. If she is within 3 y... Read Full »
Can the open bite as a result of orthodontic relapse be fixed?
Query: Hi doctor,I have misaligned teeth due to not wearing a retainer after I had worn braces 16 years ago. I am now 31 years old. I was firmly rejected for braces recently by the orthodontist because of some root canals treatments and extractions (last upper molar missing would be a huge risk) that are d... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Indeed the condition of your dentition is not good (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). There are missing molars, and the overbite has increased because of missing molars allowing front teeth to erupt more and causing deep bit... Read Full »
Can I get permanent retainer after taking off braces for open bite?
Query: Hello doctor, Should I get a permanent retainer months after braces and use of a removable retainer? Part of my overbite has returned since I got my braces off due to tongue thrusting. Partly because I never wore my retainers as much as I should have. Can I get a permanent retainer at this point? ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. First of all, you should wear your retainer regularly. Ideal position of teeth or occlusion which is obtained with the help of orthodontic treatment is maintained by regular use of orthodontic retainer. Use of orthodontic retainer is equally important and is part of ... Read Full »
Can jaw surgery help in improving open bite due to tongue thrusting?
Query: Hello doctor, I have an open bite due to a tongue thrust I have had since I was a baby (I am 22 now). It is affecting the way I talk, eat, and I sometimes find myself gasping for air when I sleep. I have been looking into ways to correct it and also close my bite. Will corrective jaw surgery help w... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. As per your description, you are having open bite and tongue thrust. For correction of open bite the exact cause must be ruled out. Tongue thrust is the cause and is also aggravating factor. Also, if corrective jaw surgery works or not or whether any skeletal jaw pro... Read Full »
Can the cause of condylar resorption be identified with imaging?
Query: Hi doctor, At the age of 17, I spontaneously developed an anterior open bite. I do not have a habit of tongue thrust. Although, I had been using a drugstore night guard when it developed. My orthodontist fixed it without doing any imaging. Looking back, I wonder if it had been caused by idiopathic c... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The resorption of your condyle is idiopathic. That means the cause cannot be determined or defined. With imaging investigations, now it is not possible to discern whether it was present or absent before, during or after treatment, unless you have x-rays or CT (computed t... Read Full »
I am wearing braces for open bite. What is the recommended elastic position for it?
Query: Hello doctor,At the moment, I have been wearing braces for roughly 2.5 years. I have an open bite on my left side that starts from the lateral incisor. I have been wearing my rubber bands as instructed. My appointment is until four weeks from now. Even though I should see my dentist for this, what i... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. As you told, you have wearing braces for 2.5 years and having a single open bite. As I can see in the attached picture, your elastics looking perfectly placed (attachment removed to protect patient identity). In orthodontic treatment, some cases took a too long time,... Read Full »