Open Bite Treatment in Seoul with an English-Speaking Orthodontist
Quick answer
An open bite is when the upper and lower front teeth do not meet when the back teeth are closed, leaving a vertical gap. It is often linked to habits such as tongue thrusting or thumb sucking, or to a long lower-face pattern. At Isu Yonsei Baro Orthodontics, Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee identifies the cause first, since habits and skeletal patterns are treated differently.
What an open bite is
With the back teeth together, the front teeth normally overlap slightly. In an anterior open bite, there is a gap between them, so you may be unable to bite through noodles or a sandwich with your front teeth. A posterior open bite, where side teeth do not meet, is less common. Clinicians also separate dental open bites, caused by tooth position, from skeletal open bites linked to a long lower face.
Common causes
- Thumb, finger or pacifier habits continued beyond early childhood
- Tongue thrusting or a forward resting tongue position
- Mouth breathing related to enlarged tonsils, adenoids or nasal blockage
- Vertical skeletal growth pattern with over-erupted back teeth
- Less commonly, jaw joint changes, which need separate evaluation
Why it matters
An open bite can make biting and chewing less efficient, place more load on the back teeth and affect some speech sounds such as s and th. Many people also notice the tongue showing between the teeth when they speak or smile.
How it is diagnosed
Dr. Lee observes swallowing, lip closure and tongue position, and asks about habits and breathing. A RAY Quantum 5D CT (CBCT) scan shows the vertical jaw relationship, the airway region and the condition of the jaw joints. The RAY Face 3D facial scan records lower-face height and lip strain at rest. Intraoral digital scans measure the gap precisely. When enlarged tonsils or nasal obstruction are suspected, referral to an ENT physician may be suggested.
Treatment options
- Habit and tongue management: often the first step, especially in children, sometimes with habit appliances and myofunctional exercises.
- Braces or aligners: braces or Invisalign can close many dental open bites. Aligners cover the back teeth, which may help limit their eruption.
- Temporary anchorage devices: can intrude over-erupted molars, allowing the jaw to close and front teeth to meet in suitable cases.
- Surgery: for severe skeletal open bites, surgical orthodontics may be discussed.
Typical timeline
Comprehensive open bite treatment commonly takes roughly 12–30 months depending on cause and severity. Because open bites tend to reopen if tongue habits persist, retainers are often worn long term. Individual results and side effects vary; treatment is decided after examination.
What to expect at Isu Yonsei Baro
The first visit lasts about 60 minutes and includes scans, X-rays or CT and photos. Dr. Lee explains in English what is driving your open bite and how habits, teeth and jaws each contribute. In Dr. Lee's practice, tongue posture is addressed alongside tooth movement, since closing the gap without changing the forces behind it is less likely to stay stable. You receive a written estimate before you decide. Digital scans replace impression trays, and NovaCare is available to help reduce orthodontic discomfort. Dr. Lee personally follows your treatment from the first visit through retention.
At a glance
- Clinical terms: anterior open bite (front) or posterior open bite (side teeth)
- Common contributors: tongue thrust, thumb sucking, mouth breathing, vertical jaw growth
- Treatment may include habit control, braces or aligners, anchorage devices or surgery
- Open bites are known for a higher relapse tendency, so retention is planned carefully
- Typical comprehensive treatment: roughly 12–30 months (not a promise)
Your orthodontist
Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee, DDS, PhD
- MOHW-certified orthodontic specialist
- PhD in Orthodontics, Yonsei University; Severance Hospital residency
- Member, Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists
- 2026 AJO-DO peer reviewer
- Consults in fluent English and treats you herself, start to finish
Isu Station Exit 2 · 1-minute walk
Mon & Thu until 9 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM
+82 2-592-2080
Frequently asked questions
Can an open bite close on its own in children?
In young children, an open bite caused by thumb sucking or a pacifier sometimes improves once the habit stops, particularly before the permanent front teeth fully erupt. If the gap remains or tongue thrusting continues, orthodontic evaluation is helpful. Skeletal open bites usually do not resolve without treatment.
Can Invisalign fix an open bite?
Clear aligners can treat many dental open bites because they cover the back teeth and can extrude front teeth or intrude molars in planned steps. Severe or skeletal cases may require anchorage devices or surgery. Dr. Lee assesses suitability using your CBCT, facial scan and digital bite records.
Why do open bites relapse?
The tongue and lips exert constant pressure on the teeth. If a tongue thrust or forward tongue posture continues after treatment, it can gradually push teeth apart again. Vertical jaw growth can also contribute. Myofunctional habits, long-term retainers and follow-up help reduce, but not eliminate, this risk.
Is an open bite related to breathing problems?
Chronic mouth breathing, for example from enlarged adenoids or nasal allergies, is associated with a lower tongue position and may contribute to an open bite in some children. Orthodontists do not treat breathing disorders, but may recommend evaluation by an ENT physician or pediatrician when it seems relevant.
Related reading
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Individual results and side effects vary; treatment is decided after an in-person examination. See our editorial and medical review policy .
Talk to Dr. Lee in English
Send your concern and preferred dates. You'll get an examination, your options, a timeline and a written estimate before you decide anything.