HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

Open bite refers to a dental condition where there is a lack of vertical overlap between the incisors, meaning that the upper and lower front teeth do not meet when the mouth is closed. This condition often results in space between the teeth and can affect chewing and speaking. An open bite can be caused by various factors, including thumb sucking, prolonged use of pacifiers, or genetics, and it typically requires orthodontic intervention to correct.

Closed bite, on the other hand, does not specifically address the scenario where the incisors do not meet vertically. Overbite refers to the condition where the upper front teeth significantly overlap the lower front teeth, while prognathia describes a protrusion of the jaw. Consequently, these terms do not accurately define the situation presented in the question, making open bite the most fitting choice.