Open bite is an oral condition that occurs when certain teeth, usually your front teeth, do not make contact with each other. Open bite gives the illusion that a person's mouth is never really closed, because there is always space between the teeth. Since open bite is not a common problem, those who seek treatment do so primarily for aesthetic reasons. For patients that have moderate to extreme open bite, treatment is important since the condition can affect the joints of the jaw and cause recurring pain throughout the region.

There are a number of circumstances that could be responsible for open bite. Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting are habits that can have an affect on the development of open bite. Speech problems such as lisping can also cause open bite. Genetics can create a situation where the upper and lower jaw are unaligned. Your dentist should be able to spot these causes and refer you to an orthodontist for proper treatment.
While open bite can often be treated with braces, in moderate to extreme cases a more complex solution is required. These cases are more difficult to handle because both the teeth and the jaw are involved. Many individuals with moderate to extreme open bite require surgery to correct their jaw. In addition, they need braces before and after the surgery to achieve proper alignment. The entire treatment procedure requires a significant financial investment, and in severe cases, may take more than 3 years to complete. The price of treatment and the time needed to complete it vary between adults and children since their mouths are in different stages of development. Even so, many individuals pay for the procedure in installments, whether they work out a payment plan with their surgeon or through a third party.