Crossbite teeth are one of the most common dental issues. But don’t worry! Brite Orthodontists can help! This post will answer your questions about what a crossbite is, what causes it, and how it can be corrected. With this information, you’ll be able to resolve the crossbite issue in your and your kid’s case.
What is a Crossbite Teeth?
Crossbite is when your teeth don’t line up correctly when you close your mouth. This can affect one or a group of teeth, making it difficult to bite and chew.
If you have a crossbite, your upper teeth don’t touch the corresponding lower teeth. This makes it hard to chew or clench. Crossbite teeth can be annoying and make it difficult to eat. Therefore, it’s essential to get it fixed.
There are 2 types of Crossbites. They are:
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Anterior Crossbite
An anterior crossbite is when one of your bottom teeth protrudes over your top front teeth. It’s different from an underbite, where all your upper teeth fall behind your lower teeth.
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Posterior Crossbite
A posterior crossbite is when your upper back teeth sit inside your lower teeth. The teeth don’t look straight and fit together. Instead, it may seem like your teeth are leaning on your tongue.
What Causes a Crossbite?
Crossbites can occur for a number of reasons, including dental, skeletal, or both types of misalignments. Some of the most common causes of a crossbite are identified below:-
- A jaw so small that it can’t fit all your teeth.
- Missing teeth
- Cleft palate
- Excessive pacifier, finger, or thumb sucking as a baby
- Early tooth loss leading other teeth to drift from their correct position
- Breathing from the mouth
- Misalignment due to teeth being bigger than the standard size
- Late falling of baby teeth
- Cleft lip
- Thrusting tongue while swallowing
What are Crossbite Symptoms?
The most apparent sign of crossbite teeth is misaligned upper and lower teeth. However, the severity and number of teeth affected can vary from person to person. If left untreated, crossbite teeth can cause a number of problems, including:
- Uneven jaw growth
- Unbalanced facial features
- Tooth wear
- Loose teeth
- Cavities
- Jaw shifting to one side
- Enamel breakdown
- TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
- Receding gums
How to Fix a Crossbite?
The cause of your crossbite and its severity are the deciding factors for prescribing a suitable treatment course. But there are good chances that your orthodontist will suggest you any of these crossbite treatments:-
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Braces for Crossbite
Braces are metal appliances that push your teeth and jawbone to move in the desired direction. They are strapped to your teeth with the help of brackets and wires. It’s a proven way of crossbite correction for decades. Your orthodontist may simultaneously put you on a palate expander and braces for even better results.
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Invisalign for Crossbite
Invisalign is the modern form of braces. They are clear aligners made of transparent plastic. Therefore they are not easily visible to others. And they are also removable, so you don’t have any dietary restrictions while wearing Invisalign. Owing to all these factors, orthodontists usually prefer Invisalign for crossbite treatment of adults.
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Crossbite Surgery
Your orthodontist might need to opt for surgery if your crossbite is so bad that it can’t be corrected through Invisalign or braces. Crossbite surgery is a jaw surgery that aligns your upper and lower jawbones. Sometimes it needs to be done in combination with braces and Invisalign.
Does Crossbite Need to be Fixed?
Untreated crossbite teeth may lead to various jaw and teeth-related issues such as uneven growth of the upper and lower jaw, shifting of the jaw to one side, and wearing down of enamel. Cavities and dental decay are also possible, as uneven teeth are hard to clean. In severe cases, you may develop TMJ and sleep apnea.
All these complications are not good news for anybody. Therefore it is recommended to get timely crossbite correction. It is not only about aesthetics. But it’s about improving your overall oral health.
What is the Right Age to Correct the Crossbite Teeth?
Crossbite correction or other bite corrections should ideally begin in childhood. This is because the teeth and jawbones are developing and can be easily moved. This will also prevent any drastic misalignment in the future. Orthodontists recommend starting the crossbite correction before the eruption of all permanent teeth.
Can Crossbite be Fixed in Adults?
Childhood is undoubtedly the best time for crossbite correction and treating other dental misalignments. However, modern dentistry can also rescue adults from the irritating and painful complications of crossbite.
Treatments like braces, Invisalign, and surgery can work perfectly well for young teens and adults. But be sure to visit an experienced and skilled orthodontist to get the best results.