Crossbites can cause your smile to be less attractive but also can cause your mouth to be less functional when it comes to chewing. A crossbite could have long-term implications for nutrition and oral health care. Fortunately, there are correction options available.
Crossbites are a common orthodontic problem. Some cases can be corrected quickly while others may take a year or more. The type and length of treatment are customized for each individual.
What Is a Crossbite?
A crossbite is when the upper teeth don’t fit correctly on the matching lower teeth. This can cause chewing problems. Over time, teeth can wear down with a crossbite.
There are two types of crossbites. The posterior crossbite is when the upper back teeth tilt inward instead of fitting straight over the bottom row. They sit inside the bottom teeth.
An anterior crossbite is when your upper front teeth are behind the lower front teeth. Some may confuse this with an underbite but an anterior crossbite only involves some of your teeth. An underbite is when all of your teeth on the upper row are behind those on the bottom row.
Unlike other orthodontic issues, a crossbite isn’t something always caused by habits like thumbsucking, although thumbsucking, continuing pacifier use, and mouthbreathing can be a root cause. A crossbite is primarily a skeletal or dental problem caused by improper bone structure, genetics, or an upper airway problem.
Other causes of crossbites include thrusting the tongue when swallowing, baby teeth that fail to fall out, or baby teeth that fall out too early. A small jaw or large teeth can cause a crossbite. A cleft lip or palate can also contribute to it.
Untreated Crossbite Causes Serious Mouth Problems
A crossbite is linked to worn-down teeth but can lead to loose teeth, enamel breakdown, receding gums, and cavities. It has serious effects on jaws because it can cause jaws to grow unevenly or to shift to one side. Crossbites are known to create unbalanced facial features and contribute to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ).
How Is Crossbite Treated?
The two most common ways an orthodontist treats a crossbite is with braces or clear aligners. Braces are appliances that use brackets, wires, and elastic bands to move teeth while clear aligners are removable appliances made of a clear plastic that realign teeth.
Some crossbite patients will need other forms of treatment like a removable appliance specifically for crossbiting, a fixed palatal crib, or myofunctional therapy.
The crossbite appliance has a spring that pressures the misaligned tooth and moves it while not moving the other teeth. This is a good option for young children.
The fixed palatal crib is used to stop thumbsucking and is given to children between 2 and 4 years old.
Myofunctional therapy focuses on where to place your tongue while chewing and swallowing so it doesn’t push teeth into misalignment.
A crossbite is considered a minor problem that can be corrected. The treatment will be easier the earlier in life it occurs. Children’s teeth aren’t set and are easier to move into perfect alignment with any of these treatments. Schedule an appointment today and get started on your journey to a beautiful, functional smile!
