Braces for open bite in Turkey: what an open bite is and how braces close it
An open bite means that some teeth do not touch when the jaws close. In an anterior open bite, the most common type, the front upper and lower teeth stay apart and you can see a gap between them, so it can be hard to bite into a sandwich or cut with the front teeth, and speech (often the "s" sound) may be affected. Braces for open bite close that gap by moving the front teeth down and up so they meet, using brackets and wires combined with vertical elastics, and in many cases small anchorage screws. Orthodontists in Turkey treat open bite with fixed braces and clear aligners.
An open bite is one of the more demanding problems in orthodontics, so this guide is more cautious than a guide to simple crowding. It explains the causes, what the evidence says about success and relapse, when jaw surgery is the realistic option, and what braces for open bite cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany. For general information on appliances see braces in Turkey.
What causes an open bite, and why the cause decides the treatment?
Two broad groups exist. A dental open bite comes from habits or tooth position: thumb or finger sucking, prolonged dummy use, a tongue that pushes forward on swallowing (tongue thrust), or mouth breathing that keeps the tongue low. A skeletal open bite is rooted in jaw growth: the back of the upper jaw grows too much downward, or the lower jaw rotates, so the front teeth cannot reach each other. Many patients have a mix of both.
The distinction matters because braces move teeth, not jaws. If a habit is still active the gap may reopen, and if the jaw pattern is the cause the amount of tooth movement may be limited. A specialist assessment with a side-view skull X-ray (cephalometric radiograph) separates the two.
Do braces for open bite work, and does it come back?
Braces can close many open bites, particularly the dental type and mild skeletal cases, by extruding (lengthening) the front teeth with elastics and levelling the arches. The honest part is relapse. Reviews of studies on anterior open bite report that a significant share of cases show some reopening after treatment, especially when the tongue habit persists or the jaw pattern is strongly vertical. For this reason many orthodontists add myofunctional therapy (tongue and swallowing exercises) and a long period of retention.
Mini-screws (temporary anchorage devices) have improved results: systematic reviews report that they can move the back teeth upward, letting the lower jaw rotate up and close the bite. They are small, placed under local anaesthetic and removed at the end. A reliable clinic will not promise that the bite stays closed; it will describe what is done to lower the risk of relapse.
Dental or skeletal open bite: when braces are enough and when surgery is needed
If the open bite is mild and mainly dental, braces, elastics and habit correction are usually enough. If the problem is skeletal and large, for example when the back teeth of the upper jaw have grown long or the lower jaw is strongly rotated, braces alone may close it only by tipping the front teeth, which looks unnatural or relapses. Orthognathic (jaw) surgery combined with braces is then discussed: braces before surgery, an operation under general anaesthesia to reposition the upper jaw, then braces to finish. This is a larger commitment in cost, recovery and hospital stay, and the surgeon and orthodontist plan it together.
In growing children, an expander, a habit appliance such as a tongue crib or a high-pull headgear may be used in the early years; see our guide to dental treatments in Turkey for the wider range of care.
Braces for open bite cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The ranges below are approximate for a full orthodontic course including any mini-screws, but not including jaw surgery, and are not hospital quotes. Each clinic confirms its own price in a written plan.
| Country | Approximate cost range (braces only) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €1,500 – €4,500 |
| United Kingdom | €3,500 – €8,000 |
| United States | €4,500 – €10,000 |
| Germany | €3,500 – €8,500 |
What changes the price: the severity of the open bite, whether mini-screws are placed, the duration (often 18 to 30 months), metal or ceramic brackets, extractions, tongue therapy, and whether retainers and long-term monitoring are included. If jaw surgery is needed, the surgeon's fee, anaesthesia and hospital stay are quoted separately and are significantly higher.
Fixed braces, mini-screws, clear aligners or jaw surgery for an open bite?
Fixed braces are the most common choice because brackets let the orthodontist apply vertical elastics and control each tooth. Mini-screws can be added to move molars up. Clear aligners can close mild open bites and are discreet, but they rely on wearing the trays and are less predictable for large gaps; see Invisalign in Turkey. Surgery is for skeletal cases.
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed braces with elastics | Dental and mild skeletal open bite | Needs good elastic wear; relapse possible |
| Braces with mini-screws | Moderate open bite; molar intrusion needed | Small procedure; screws can loosen |
| Clear aligners | Mild open bite; adults who wear trays reliably | Less predictable for large gaps |
| Orthodontics plus jaw surgery | Severe skeletal open bite | Major operation, longer recovery, higher cost |
The treatment step by step: records, elastics, mini-screws and finishing
Treatment starts with a clinical examination, photographs, scans or impressions, a panoramic X-ray and a side-view skull X-ray. The orthodontist also checks tongue position, breathing and swallowing, and may refer you to a speech or myofunctional therapist. Fitting braces takes about an hour. Where mini-screws are planned, a small area of the gum is numbed and the screw is placed in minutes. Over the months the orthodontist uses vertical elastics, which you change daily, and adjusts the wires every four to six weeks. In the final phase the teeth are detailed so the front teeth overlap slightly and the bite is stable, and the braces are replaced with retainers.
How long does treatment take, and how many days in Turkey?
Expect 18 to 30 months of braces. A fitting visit in Turkey commonly takes three to five days for records, planning and fitting. Because elastics need regular review, the schedule must be agreed before you pay: either a dentist near home continues with your full plan, or you return every six to ten weeks. When surgery is part of the plan, the operation usually needs a stay of several days and a review before you travel, so ask for a written timetable. The page on how it works explains how a plan is prepared.
Braces for open bite recovery, retention and tongue habits
Day to day, braces for open bite feel like any braces: soreness for a few days after fitting and after adjustments, soft food at first and careful brushing. Elastics must be worn as instructed, usually all day, because the correction depends on them. Mini-screws can feel slightly tender for a day or two. After debonding, retention is the key: a fixed wire behind the teeth, a removable retainer and, where relevant, continued tongue exercises. Some orthodontists advise wearing retainers for years. Stopping a thumb-sucking or tongue habit is part of recovery, not only of prevention.
Risks and side effects of open bite treatment
Common effects are soreness, ulcers and broken brackets. Specific to open bite are relapse, loosened mini-screws, shortening of the tooth roots from the extra movement, and gum recession if the front teeth are moved very far. Poor cleaning can cause gum inflammation and white marks on the enamel. When surgery is used, the usual risks of an operation under general anaesthesia apply, including swelling, numbness and infection. The NHS and the British Orthodontic Society advise assessment by a specialist orthodontist for any bite that is not mild, so ask about the relapse risk in your case and how it will be monitored.
How to choose a clinic for braces for open bite and questions to ask
An open bite needs a specialist orthodontist with experience of vertical problems and, if needed, a surgeon in the same team. A reliable clinic takes a side-view X-ray, explains whether your open bite is dental or skeletal, tells you plainly about relapse and gives a written plan. Red flags: promising a permanent result, quoting without X-rays, no plan for retention and no named follow-up. You can send your records for a plan through our free quote page.
- Is my open bite dental or skeletal, and what does the X-ray show?
- Do I need mini-screws or surgery, and what happens if braces alone are not enough?
- How will you reduce the risk of the gap reopening?
- How long will treatment take and who will see me near home?
- What does the price include, and how long will I wear retainers?
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
They are fixed braces, often with vertical elastics and sometimes small anchorage screws, that move the teeth so the front teeth meet. They are used for an anterior open bite, where the front teeth stay apart when the mouth is closed.
They can close many dental and mild skeletal open bites. Severe skeletal cases may need jaw surgery, and relapse is a known risk, so retention and correction of tongue habits are important.
A full course of braces for open bite, including mini-screws, is roughly €1,500 to €4,500 in Turkey, against about €3,500 to €8,000 in the UK. Jaw surgery, if needed, is quoted separately.
It can. Relapse is more likely when a tongue thrust, thumb sucking or mouth breathing continues or when the jaw pattern is strongly vertical. Long retainer wear and tongue exercises reduce the risk.
Most treatments last 18 to 30 months, followed by long-term retention. Severe cases, extractions or surgery add to the time.
Aligners can close mild open bites in patients who wear them most of the day. Larger gaps are less predictable, and an orthodontist may recommend fixed braces or mini-screws instead.
Not always. Mild or dental open bites often close with braces. Surgery is considered when the skeletal pattern is severe and braces alone could only tip the front teeth, which looks unnatural or relapses.
A small area of the gum is numbed, so placement is brief and comfortable. The area can be tender for a day or two afterwards, and the screws are removed at the end of treatment.
Yes. In growing children, a habit appliance or expander may be used first and full braces later. The orthodontist decides when to start, and thumb-sucking should be addressed early.
Three to five days normally cover records, planning and fitting. Elastics and wires need review every four to six weeks, so arrange follow-up near home or return visits before you start.