18-month ClearPath correction of an anterior open bite
Difficulty biting into food, especially rotis and salads, with an obvious front-tooth gap when biting down.
- City
- Bengaluru
- Duration
- 18 months
- Age group
- 31-35
- Cost band
- ₹1.6L to ₹2.1L (illustrative)
Written by GoInvisalign Editorial
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ravi Menon
MDS Orthodontics
Clinical summary
Patient overview
Clinical findings
- • 1.5 mm anterior open bite from canine to canine
- • Tongue thrust habit on swallowing
- • Class I molar relationship
Diagnosis
Dento-alveolar anterior open bite with a mild tongue-thrust habit.
Treatment objectives
- • Close the anterior open bite
- • Address the tongue-thrust habit with myofunctional therapy
- • Establish anterior guidance
Treatment plan
- • 36 aligner stages with anterior extrusion elastics
- • Myofunctional therapy for 8 weeks
- • Two refinement rounds
Digital workflow
Technology used
- 3Shape TRIOS
- ClearPath planner
- Elastics protocol
Before & after
Documented transformation
Drag the handle to compare month 0 with the debond image. Individual results vary.
Photographs represent one individual case. Images are not a guarantee of future results. Outcomes vary with diagnosis, biology, treatment plan, compliance and retention. A qualified orthodontist must plan every case individually.
Treatment timeline
Milestones
Month 0
Records and habit training
Baseline records taken; myofunctional therapy started in parallel.
Month 9
First refinement
Anterior closure progressing; refinement scan taken to fine-tune elastics.
Month 18
Debond and retention
Bite closed; retention protocol initiated.
Progress gallery
Documented visits
Month 0retracted Month 18retracted
Photographs represent one individual case. Images are not a guarantee of future results. Outcomes vary with diagnosis, biology, treatment plan, compliance and retention. A qualified orthodontist must plan every case individually.
Outcome
Outcome summary
The anterior open bite closed with re-establishment of anterior guidance. Results vary and depend on retained habit control after treatment.
Retention plan: Full-time retention for 6 months, then night-time for the long term. Habit control monitored at each recall.
Patient experience
In the patient's words
"The refinement round is what really finished the job. I could bite into an apple properly for the first time in years."
Doctor insights
Clinical commentary
Dr. Ravi Menon · MDS Orthodontics
Rationale
Dental open bites within 2 mm and Class I patterns are strong candidates for aligner-based correction.
Retention strategy
Long-term night-time retention with habit control monitoring.
Alternatives considered
- • Fixed appliances with TADs
- • Surgical correction (declined; not indicated)
Learning points
- • Elastic wear compliance is the single biggest predictor of anterior closure
Reasoning
Why this treatment was selected
A neutral summary of the planning trade-offs, presented for education, not endorsement.
Dental open bites within 2 mm and Class I patterns are strong candidates for aligner-based correction.
Planning considerations
- Aligner elastics protocol was preferred over TADs given mild severity
Alternatives considered
- Fixed appliances with TADs
- Surgical correction (declined; not indicated)
Every case is diagnosed individually — a qualified orthodontist is the only source of a personal treatment plan.
Clinical reflection
Lessons learned
Educational takeaways for clinicians and informed patients.
- Elastic wear compliance is the single biggest predictor of anterior closure
Frequently asked
About this case
- No. Aligners can correct dento-alveolar open bites within a limited range. Skeletal open bites often require surgery or fixed appliances.
Explore
Every case starts with an in-person consultation
Photographs, scans and a clinician's assessment are the only way to know what your smile plan looks like.
