Crossbite Treatment - All You Need to Know

Crossbite is a common dental condition, seen commonly among children and adults that can now be resolved under a variety of crossbite treatments. Read on further to understand its nature, how it occurs, how to identify its symptoms, and how you can deal with it efficiently.

What is a Crossbite

A common sign that a patient has a healthy set of teeth is the complete and comfortable closure of jaws in an aligned manner. The upper teeth overlap a small portion of the lower teeth when you bite completely. But this sign is generally not displayed with a crossbite. A few lower teeth can close in the front, leaving the top teeth behind in a misaligned form. The irregular points of contact between the two sets of teeth give rise to this malocclusion. Though it is a common dental health condition that people across the world face, the advancements of modern medicine have allowed for its treatment to take place in the most hassle-free manner possible.

What are the types of Crossbite?

To put it simply, two main types of crossbites affect people, i.e. anterior crossbite and posterior crossbite.

People who suffer from anterior crossbites generally have their front bottom teeth sticking out more than their front top teeth. Both the front top and bottom rows of teeth include incisors and canines. There can be times when the mouth closes incorrectly, one or many upper teeth hide behind the bottom teeth. There are even cases when the bottom set of teeth completely hides all the upper teeth. This type of crossbite has mostly been found in people who have reached adulthood.

Posterior crossbites refer to the malocclusion that affects the molars and premolars. It occurs when the bottom set of molars protrude further than the top set of teeth. Posterior crossbites can also occur when the teeth and palate in the upper jaw are irregularly narrow, thereby affecting either one or both sides of the mouth. It is most commonly found among children.

What are the Symptoms of a Crossbite?

In cases where crossbites go untreated, there is a list of health complications that can impede your daily activities. Some of these health complications include:

Pain caused while biting or chewing

Development of bacterial infections

Reduced sleep cycles

Loss of tooth or teeth

Build-up of plaque

Toothaches, headaches, and/or jaw aches

Inability to close the mouth properly

Speech impediments

Periodontal disease

Cavities

Though many health conditions share these common symptoms, it is always best to get your teeth examined twice a year so that the condition can be detected before it causes irreparable damage to your teeth.

What Causes a Crossbite?

Though crossbites may arise from a diverse range of reasons, crossbites are generally caused by two primary reasons, i.e. it is a genetic condition or a developmental condition.

In the case of it being a genetic condition, crossbites can have a hereditary affliction. The jaw structure and its respective teeth alignment can be inherited from their family line. Thus, should a parent or relative within a family have a crossbite, the odds are higher for a child to inherit the same malocclusion? In this instance, there are no preventive measures to ensure that the child does not inherit the same condition, but detecting it at an early age can help for their later developmental years.

With regards to crossbites that arise from developmental conditions, various actions can lead to the development of a crossbite. Some of these actions include mouth breathing, tongue-thrusting, thumb-sucking, loss of baby teeth at an earlier stage than usual, prolonged use of a bottle or pacifier, or even the delayed growth of adult teeth. To help avoid the rise of such a dental condition, it is better to have children visit an orthodontist from the age of 7 years. In this way, their teeth development can be monitored and the dental professional can identify and treat potential issues that may arise.

What Kind of Treatment Can Help Best with a Crossbite?

If a crossbite has been detected early, the orthodontist will suggest a treatment option that can deal with it in the most efficient manner possible while helping you save on unnecessary costs. Such treatment options include the use of braces, tooth extraction procedures, and in rare and severe cases, surgery may be considered, a procedure that enables correct teeth alignment via the shortening of the lower jaw.

However, the most accessible treatment option that has its popularity increasing with each passing day includes the use of clear aligners. Being a reliable and truly effective alternative for crossbite treatments, clear aligners are custom-made for each patient and need to be worn throughout the day and night. This treatment method works overtime to help safely align one’s teeth into their desired position. Being clear and removable by nature, aligners can help patients achieve their dream smiles without any appearance disruption required.

With all of this information about crossbites detailed, it should be much easier and more convenient to deal with them under the supervision of an experienced dental professional. If you are considering the use of clear aligners to help deal with your crossbite efficiently and painlessly, contact your dentist and ask them about how you can benefit from Illusion Aligners.