When your front teeth don’t meet, everyday stuff gets weird. Biting into a sandwich takes effort. Certain words feel airy. That space is called an open bite. Washington Orthodontics see patients with this issue all the time across Bellevue, Redmond, and all the way to Sammamish.
Luckily the solution for our patients is simple. Dr. Moon corrects open bites with braces, elastics, and sometimes small anchors called TADs, so our patients’ teeth meet the way they should.
If you’re still on the fence about getting an open bite correction, stick around. This guide covers causes, the step-by-step plan, timelines, expected costs, and retention, so you know exactly what to expect before your first visit.
What is an Open Bite and How Do You Spot It?
An open bite means your front teeth don’t touch when you close—your molars make contact first, leaving a gap up front. Most people notice it when biting foods like sandwiches or noodles feels awkward, or when certain sounds (s, z) come out a little airy.
Here’s how you do a quick check at home to see if you have an open bite:
- Stand in front of a mirror, relax your jaw, and close until your back teeth lightly meet.
- Look at the front teeth. If there’s space between the upper and lower edges, that’s an anterior open bite.
- Try biting a thin strip of paper between the front teeth. If it slips out easily, that’s another sign.
Two Types of Open Bite Issues
Open bites can be dental (tooth position) or skeletal (jaw growth pattern). Braces can address many dental open bites; more severe skeletal patterns sometimes need extra tools (like elastics or TADs) to guide teeth into contact.
At Washington Orthodontics, we use a 3D scan, and a simple bite analysis (often with a cephalometric X-ray) to map whether your open bite is dental, skeletal, or mixed.
Dental Open Bite (Tooth Position)
Teeth are tipped or positioned so the fronts don’t meet. This is often driven by habits (thumb-sucking, prolonged pacifier use), tongue posture, or previous shifting. Braces with elastics usually correct these predictably. Bite turbos or build-ups may help speed things along.
Skeletal Open Bite (Jaw Pattern)
The upper and/or lower jaws grew in a way that keeps the front teeth apart (often tied to airway/mouth-breathing patterns). These need stronger anchorage to control vertical movement—TADs (mini-implants) can help intrude molars and rotate the bite closed. In more severe adult cases, surgery plus braces may be recommended after full records.
Why Open Bites Happen
Open bites aren’t “just teeth.” They’re usually a mix of tooth position, muscle habits, and how the jaws grew. Here are the main factors contributing to why someone could develop open bites:
Thumb-sucking or prolonged pacifier use:
Gentle, constant forces tip front teeth forward and upper molars down, leaving space in front. The habit can stop, but the bite often needs help to close.
Tongue posture or thrust:
If the tongue rests low or pushes between the front teeth when swallowing or speaking, it blocks the teeth from meeting. Myofunctional exercises can retrain this while braces do the moving.
Airway and mouth-breathing:
Allergies, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, or chronic congestion can change posture (head up, mouth open). Over time, that can encourage a long-face growth pattern and a front gap.
Growth pattern (skeletal vertical):
Some people naturally grow with a steeper lower jaw angle or “downward and backward” rotation. Braces may need extra anchorage (like TADs) to control vertical movement here.
Early tooth loss or mismatched eruption:
Missing baby teeth, early extractions, or back teeth that over-erupt can keep the fronts apart.
Post-ortho relapse:
If retainers weren’t worn or habits weren’t addressed, spacing can reopen—especially in front.
We close the gap by moving teeth and, just as important, by addressing the habit or airway driver so the results hold. Dr. Moon invests time with each patient to personalize treatment and ask about any habits that may contribute to the issue and build them into your treatment plan.
Can Braces Fix an Open Bite?
Yes, braces can close open bites by guiding teeth into contact and controlling vertical movement. We’ve seen amazing results in our clinic even in shorter time frames. However, results will vary depending on the severity of the open bite.
What Works for Mild to Moderate Cases of Open Bite
Braces paired with elastics guide the front teeth into contact while keeping the back teeth balanced. We’ll sometimes add small “bite turbos” or build-ups on select teeth to create the clearance needed so the front teeth can meet faster. If tongue posture or a past habit played a role, we fold in simple coaching or exercises alongside braces so the correction holds.
What Helps in More Complex Open Bite Cases
For open bites tied to stronger vertical patterns, temporary anchorage devices (TADs) give braces a stable anchor. These tiny, sterile mini-implants let us intrude molars and rotate the bite closed without unwanted side effects.
In select adult cases where jaw growth is the main driver, surgery combined with braces can be the most predictable route. Most patients don’t need surgery, but for some, it’s the right answer.
Timeline and Comfort
Many plans run 12 to 24 months, depending on severity, growth, and how consistently elastics are worn. Expect some pressure after adjustments or when starting elastics; it usually settles in a few days with simple home care.
What Makes Results Stick
Long-term stability comes from addressing the driver—tongue posture, airway, or habits—and wearing retainers as prescribed. A combo of fixed and removable retainers often gives open bite cases the best hold over time.
At Washington Orthodontics in Bellevue, Dr. Moon tailors every plan to your bite and goals. Washington Orthodontics offers affordable braces options for children, teens, and adults, and we make sure you know the steps, the timeline, and the monthly cost before you begin.
Your Treatment Plan at Washington Orthodontics
Washington Orthodontics start open bite correction by understanding what’s causing your open bite, then map a braces plan that fits your goals, schedule, and budget. Dr. Moon explains each tool (elastics, bite turbos, or TADs if needed) in plain language, so you always know what’s next and why it matters.
Step 1: Consult and records
We start with a 3D scan, and a bite check. If needed, we’ll add a cephalometric X-ray to see how the jaws relate. Dr. Moon reviews everything with you in plain language so you know what’s driving the open bite and what it will take to close it.
Step 2: Custom plan
Based on your records, we choose the right appliance setup, metal or ceramic braces, where to place bite turbos or build-ups, and the elastic pattern that helps the front teeth meet. If your case would benefit from extra anchorage, we’ll discuss TADs and what that looks like day-to-day.
Step 3: Timeline and milestones
Most open-bite plans land somewhere in the 12–24 month range. You’ll see early changes in how your front teeth approach each other, followed by fine-tuning to make the bite feel natural. We’ll set check-in intervals that keep things moving without crowding your schedule.
Step 4: Comfort and home care
Expect pressure after adjustments or when starting elastics, usually a few days. Soft foods, a simple salt-water rinse, and over-the-counter pain relief (as appropriate) are often enough. We’ll show you how to place elastics correctly and what to do if one pops.
Step 5: Retention and habit support
Once the bite is closed, retainers hold the finish while tissues adapt. If tongue posture or airway plays a role, we’ll pair your retainers with simple habit guidance or a referral as needed. That combo is what helps keep an open bite closed for the long term.
Costs, Insurance, and Payment Options for Open Bite Correction
If you’re near the Bellevue area, you can get discounts for open bite correction at Washington Orthodontics. Patients who pay in full get in-house treatment discounts. And if more than one family member is getting treatments done, we also give a mult-family discount!
Treatment costs for open bite correction often depend on the individual. To get an idea of how much it cost on average, you’ll often see these prices:
- Braces (non-surgical cases): typically $3,000–$10,000 depending on case complexity, ceramic vs metal, and total treatment time.
- Clear aligners (for comparison): generally $3,000–$8,000+ based on complexity and refinements.
- TADs (mini-implants), if needed: usually a few hundred dollars per device (often ~$300–$1,000 each), billed as an add-on.
- Orthognathic surgery + braces (severe skeletal cases): ~$7,000–$60,000+ all-in can happen depending on procedure mix, hospital fees, and insurance.
If you have orthodontic benefits, we’ll verify them for you and estimate how much your plan contributes toward braces. Many patients also use HSA/FSA funds to lower out-of-pocket costs.
Some open bite cases qualify as medically necessary under certain policies—especially when function is affected. If your plan requires pre-authorization or additional documentation, our team helps gather what’s needed.
For the small subset of adults who need surgery in addition to braces, we coordinate closely with the surgeon so you understand which parts are billed by which office and how coverage typically applies.
Ready To Fix Your Open Bite Issue?
Closing the gap improves chewing efficiency, protects enamel, and helps your bite feel stable. If you’re planning on getting open bite correction treatments, or want to see your options, you’ve come to the right place. Ready to close the gap? Book a free consultation with Dr. Moon at Washington Orthodontics today!
