Short answer. Bite turbos are small ramps or pads bonded behind the upper front teeth or on top of the back teeth during braces. They stop the teeth from closing completely, which keeps the upper teeth from biting the lower brackets off and gives a deep bite or crossbite room to correct. They usually stay on for 3 to 6 months, feel strange for about two weeks, and come off without pain once the bite has opened.
By Rodrigo F. Viecilli, DDS, PhD, board-certified orthodontist at Limestone Hills Orthodontics in Austin, TX. His PhD is in orthodontic biomechanics, the study of the forces that open and close a bite.
What bite turbos are
A bite turbo is a small block of dental composite or metal that is bonded to a tooth to act as a stop. Orthodontists also call them bite ramps, bite blocks or bite pads. They come in two positions:
- Front turbos sit on the back surface of the two upper front teeth. The lower front teeth land on them when you close.
- Back turbos sit on the chewing surface of two molars. They are usually blue, pink or tooth-colored so they are easy to see and remove later.
Either way the effect is the same. Your teeth meet on the turbos first, and the other teeth stay a few millimeters apart.
Why you need them
- To protect the lower braces. In a deep bite the upper front teeth close over the lower ones and land on the lower brackets. Without turbos those brackets are knocked off again and again.
- To open a deep bite. With the front teeth resting on turbos, the back teeth are free to grow toward each other and the front teeth are pressed gently into the bone. Both movements reduce the overlap.
- To correct a crossbite. A tooth that is trapped behind its opposite number cannot cross over while the teeth lock together. Turbos unlock the bite so it can move.
- To protect enamel. Turbos keep upper teeth from grinding against ceramic lower brackets, which are harder than enamel.
Deep bite correction is described on the overbite treatment page and crossbite correction on the crossbite page.
What to expect in the first two weeks
| When | What you notice | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Only the turbos touch. The back teeth do not meet and chewing feels impossible | Soft food that needs no chewing. It is normal |
| Days 2 to 4 | Sore teeth where the turbos land. A slight lisp with front turbos | Cold water, soft food, reading aloud to adapt your speech |
| Days 5 to 10 | Chewing gets easier as you learn where to put food | Small bites, slow chewing |
| By two weeks | Most people have adapted and speak normally | A regular braces-safe diet |
| Weeks 4 to 12 | The back teeth start to touch again as the bite opens | Nothing. This is the turbos working |
Eating with bite turbos
For the first week eat the way you would right after getting braces: yogurt, smoothies, eggs, mashed potatoes, pasta, soup, soft fish. The first-week soft food list has 50 ideas. After that, cut food into small pieces and chew slowly. Hard, sticky and chewy foods stay off the menu as with any braces, and the full chart is in foods to avoid with braces.
Do not try to grind the turbos down by clenching on them. They wear a little on their own, and that is expected.
How long bite turbos stay on
Until the bite has opened enough that the upper teeth clear the lower brackets. At Limestone Hills that phase usually takes 3 to 6 months. A very deep bite can take longer, and a single crossbite tooth can take less. Removing them takes a minute or two: the composite is polished off, and it does not hurt.
If a bite turbo falls off or wears down
- It is not an emergency. Nothing sharp is left behind.
- Check whether your upper teeth now touch the lower brackets when you bite. If they do, eat soft food and bite gently until it is replaced.
- If one turbo is gone and the other remains, the bite will feel uneven. Call the office so both can be made even again.
- Call the office. A replacement is quick, and waiting weeks can cost you lower brackets.
Limestone Hills patients can call (512) 720-6399. Other loose or broken parts are covered in what to do about a broken bracket and on the orthodontic emergency page.
Bite turbos, bite plates and aligner bite ramps
| Device | Where it sits | Used with |
|---|---|---|
| Bite turbo | Bonded to the back of the upper front teeth or the top of the molars | Braces |
| Bite plate | A removable acrylic plate on the roof of the mouth | Braces or early treatment, less common today |
| Aligner bite ramp | A ledge built into the upper aligner behind the front teeth | Clear aligners |
How aligners open a deep bite is covered in can Invisalign fix an overbite.
Common questions about bite turbos
Do bite turbos hurt?
Placing them does not hurt. The teeth that land on them can be sore for a few days because they carry all the biting force, and chewing feels awkward for one to two weeks.
How long do bite turbos stay on?
Usually 3 to 6 months, until the bite has opened enough that the upper teeth no longer hit the lower brackets. Your orthodontist checks this at each visit.
Can you eat normally with bite turbos?
Not at first. For about a week only the turbos touch, so soft food is easier. Within two weeks most people eat a regular braces-safe diet, cut into small pieces.
Why do my back teeth not touch with bite turbos?
Because the turbos are built to hold the teeth apart. The gap is the working space for the bite to open. Over the following weeks the back teeth move toward each other and begin to touch again.
Do bite turbos change your face or jaw?
No. They open the bite by a few millimeters for a few months while the teeth move. They do not change the jaw bones or the shape of the face.
Limestone Hills Orthodontics treats deep bites and crossbites with braces at its office on RM 2222 in Northwest Austin. The first visit is free for new patients who have not been in orthodontic treatment in the last 12 months. Book a free orthodontic consultation.
Sources. American Association of Orthodontists, patient information on braces and bite correction (aaoinfo.org). Treatment timing from Limestone Hills Orthodontics, Austin, TX.
