What is the treatment for an 'Open Bite'?

[Why??]

Last week I took our 8 year old to a new dentist, she examined him and informed me that he has an 'Open Bite' (there is about an index fingers difference between his top and bottom teeth) she is referring him to an Orthodontist and that he may need braces.I am a little annoyed that this has only just been spotted as he has been going to the dentist for the last 4 years. I wandered if anyone is familiar with this and what the usual treatment is?

[teag1rl]

I'm not sure about an open bite specifically. But my sister and I both had teeth removed and braces fixed to make teeth less crowded and straighten them out. It did a fantastic job and I am soo glad I had it done, despite the discomfort. In both cases, the work did not begin until we were in secondary school, and I don't recall seeing younger kids with braces, so I wonder if it's a development thing-they wait until you're older before sorting things out.

[Iz66]

we had the same with our 8 yr old son.

All i say...is dont pay the private fee to see orthodontist! wait on the nhs queue unlike we did! It cost us �80 to go private so our son could be seen within 2 weeks rather than the nhs 8 month queue and in return the orthodontist took a few pictured of my sons teeth and told us to come back in 2yrs time. Plenty of growing time, baby teeth to come out etc....and they dont fit braces to kids so young. We could have saved �80 if only our dentist told us this information but as i suspect the dentist was pushing work to orthodontist!

Grrrr

[JKennair]

In response to Iz66,

Id like to highlight your obvious lack of knowledge of orthodontics. Do you seriously believe that it is necessary for ANY dentist to refer patients over for an �80 fee!!!, they are far from short of work, for actual treatment they recieve a substantial fee that is well deserved given that they train for at least 5 years as an undergraduate and a further 3-5 years (at least) to become an orthodontist. So next time think before you write absolute rubbish!!!!

[JKennair]

It may well be that the severity of the open-bite has increased with increase in age, this is common as its growth related.

Referal to an orthodontist is appropriate (only if you and/or your 8yr old is concerned) an open bite will note rectify itself

It could be that a functional appliance (works utilising growth of the jaws) is required oh and again in response to Iz66 this type of appliance only works in growing children so she was talking garbage about not fitting braces for young children although in many cases it is not appropriate until the full adult dentition has erupted