Have you experienced difficulty eating certain foods? Or maybe your bite isn’t quite aligned right when you bite down? You probably have an open bite. An open bite is a malocclusion characterized by a gap between the upper and lower teeth. It is caused by prolonged thumb-sucking or pacifier use, delayed eruption of adult teeth, jaw injuries, and missing teeth. Thankfully, open bites can be treated with orthodontics.
At Griffin & Errera Orthodontics, we offer various treatment options, such as metal braces, clear braces, LightForce braces, and Invisalign. Each has distinct strengths and unique properties that address your open bite.
How Do We Treat Open Bites?
When an open bite is left untreated, you’re putting yourself at risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues and speech and chewing difficulties. Don’t worry! Dr. Griffin, Dr. Errera, and their experi teams are here to save the day.
As we value our patients’ comfort, we use cutting-edge orthodontic technologies—like the iTero Element scanner—to create a digital impression of your smile. These technologies not only save you the discomfort of gooey impressions, but they also provide us with a more comprehensive map of your teeth and jaws.
Let’s learn more about our practice’s treatment options:
Metal Braces
Metal braces are among the most common treatments for many of our clients in Middleburg, Warrenton, and Culpeper. This treatment is designed for all ages and is very durable. The medical-grade wires, brackets, and elastics help to close the gap between your upper and lower teeth.
These components deliver a little pressure on your smile, though this sensation goes away after the first few days of treatment. Because this appliance enables precise teeth movement, Dr. Griffin and Dr. Errera often prescribe metal braces for patients with more severe open bites.
On average, you’ll wear your metal braces for 12 to 36 months. However, this depends on the severity of your open bite and the movement of your teeth. During your initial consultation with our expert orthodontists, we’ll inform you of the estimated completion time for your braces treatment.
Patient compliance is, of course, critical to your treatment’s success. Drop by our Middleburg, Warrenton, or Culpeper offices every 6 to 10 weeks for a 20—to 30-minute braces adjustment session with Dr. Griffin or Dr. Errera.
LightForce Braces
Aimed at adults and older teenagers, LightForce braces are the more innovative versions of conventional braces and metal braces. While they still employ the same brackets-and-wire system of traditional braces, LightForce consists of the following components:
- Translucent brackets: These 3D-printed brackets come in different slot sizes. They’re customized, too, so they’re made to fit into your smile’s anatomy — encouraging precise alignment of teeth to treat your open bite.
- LighTray: Our LightForce braces boast an indirect bonding (IDB) tray. Like LightForce’s tooth-colored brackets, this component is fully personalized according to your smile needs. It also helps us accurately place your braces.
- Turbos: LightForce Turbos are engineered to help correct your bite and achieve the desired jaw and teeth positioning. Because they’re optional parts, we can place Turbos on your smile at the discretion of Dr. Griffin and Dr. Errera.
The best part about LightForce braces is its very own LightForce software. This program allows our expert orthodontists to adjust and provide a clearer picture of your open bite treatment.
Like traditional braces, LightForce braces are ideal if you have a serious open bite. Treatment is faster, too, so you’ll be able to see your newly corrected smile much sooner.
Clear Braces
Our clear braces work just like traditional metal braces but with a key difference: they’re made from high-quality, tooth-colored ceramic. This makes them incredibly discreet, so much so that even someone with remarkably good eyesight is unlikely to notice that you’re wearing them.
If you’re looking to add a fun twist to your clear braces, our clinic offers colored elastics, which are worth trying at least once. We also use the LightForce system with our ceramic braces, featuring rounder brackets for added comfort. Plus, with good oral hygiene, you won’t have to worry about stains or discoloration, keeping your smile bright and clean throughout your treatment.
Invisalign
Similar to LightForce braces, Invisalign is primarily aimed at teenagers and grown-ups. A well-known clear aligner brand, Invisalign is the most discreet of all our dental appliances. Because each clear aligner is customized to your smile, your teeth can move to their proper positions without sacrificing fit or comfortability. You’ll replace your aligner trays about every six to 12 weeks.
Our offices in Middleburg, Warrenton, and Culpeper also have a program specifically for Invisalign treatment. This allows Dr. Griffin or Dr. Errera to generate a digital image of your treated open bite. For many of our patients, this projection motivates them to comply with our 22-hour recommended wear time.
Unlike braces, clear aligners don’t require strict dietary restrictions—provided you don’t eat— provided you’re not eating while wearing them. However, this treatment is more suitable for mild to moderate open bites.
Treating Your Open Bite for A More Attractive Smile
While orthodontics can correct an open bite, there are cases when jaw surgery is required. This is why it’s important to see Dr. Griffin or Dr. Errera for a free initial consultation.
When you see us for a consultation, we can determine the severity of your open bite and help you choose the appropriate treatment for you and your needs. Complete our appointment form or call our Middleburg, Warrenton, or Culpeper office, and we’ll help you start your smile journey.