Crowding or crooked teeth is a common reason patients often seek orthodontic treatment, and jaw malalignment is not always most obvious with an underlying crossbite. Crossbites clearly indicate a disharmony between the upper and lower jaw. A crossbite occurs because the upper and lower teeth do not align which affects teeth from fitting into each other. Teeth should fit like a jar and a lid, where the lower teeth represent the jar and the upper teeth represent the lid. All of the upper teeth should fit outside the lower teeth, if they do not, then there may be a crossbite. If you suspect anything, please book an appointment to let us look as soon as possible
Early treatment for a crossbite may be treated with an expander to change the size of the jaw; however, this needs to be addressed while a child is growing, usually between 8 – 10 years old. If this is not done in a timely manner, it can affect jaw growth, facial symmetry, and dental occlusion which may be corrected at a later age (21 years or older) with jaw surgery.
For more information about crossbite treatments or the importance of crossbite correction at an early age, please contact our office.
A crossbite is when either the upper and lower jaws are misaligned or just the teeth are misaligned. One or more of the upper teeth biting on the inside of the lower teeth characterizes a crossbite.
What causes a crossbite?
The condition can be genetic or environmental, please let us see the patient for a consultation to provide a timely treatment option if needed.
Prolonged thumb sucking or severe tongue thrusting, which may deforms the palate are examples of environmental changes.
What problems can a crossbite cause?
This condition is not self-correcting. A crossbite may not correct itself without intervention. The sooner the condition is corrected, the less difficult the treatment options.
If the crossbite is not corrected in time, it may lead to an imbalanced growth of the jaws. One jaw may invariably grow asymmetrically, leading to unbalanced bones, teeth and the overall face.
How do you treat a crossbite problem?
Treatment often consists of expansion of the jaw bones. This is best done before the facial bones fuse, before puberty. In females, this may happen a few years before males, it is best to see us between the ages of 8 – 10 years old.
Early treatment (8 – 10 years old) before the fusion of the bones is the best time for preventing long term problems.
Unlike many other dental conditions, a crossbite has implications that go beyond mere cosmetic issues. Orthodontists recommend getting the condition corrected as early as possible.
If you are an adult, the available option may be a jaw surgery to correct the bite.
For more information about crossbite treatments, pleasecontact our office.
