Is your child experiencing any of the following?
- Speech problems like trouble speaking clearly or speaking with a lisp
- Biting the inside of one or both cheeks when talking or eating
- Jaw pain, neck pain, or headaches
If so, your child may have a dental condition known as crossbite. Fortunately, this condition is treatable.
If your child has a crossbite condition, our Scottsdale orthodontists at Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry can help. To learn more about crossbite symptoms and how to treat crossbite, call us at (480) 422-4544 to talk with one of our child orthodontic specialists.
What Is a Crossbite?
In a normal bite, the upper teeth are positioned so that each upper tooth touches its counterpart lower tooth. This allows for an even spread of pressure and efficient chewing.
A dental crossbite occurs when the upper and lower teeth or jaws are misaligned. Also known as a type of malocclusion, this dental condition is common and can affect either the upper or lower jaw. Unlike other types of misaligned bites, crossbites place the upper teeth inside and behind the lower teeth rather than in front of them when the mouth is closed.
Types of Crossbite
There are two types of this condition: anterior crossbites and posterior crossbites.
Anterior Crossbite
An anterior crossbite, or underbite, occurs when the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth. Anterior crossbites may give a child’s lower jaw and chin an abnormal appearance.
Posterior Crossbite
A posterior crossbite condition affects the teeth found in the back of the mouth. This causes the lower teeth to overlap the upper back teeth.
Crossbite Causes
Crossbites have several common causes in children and adults, including:
- Inherited or genetic causes, such as a cleft palate, cleft lip, or an undersized jaw bone
- Missing teeth, including baby teeth that fall out too early
- Crowded teeth, like baby teeth that do not fall out or permanent teeth that erupt too soon
- Injury to the jaw or mouth
- Using a pacifier for too long
- Childhood habits like thumb sucking
- Tongue-thrusting when swallowing
- Breathing through the mouth
Crossbite Symptoms
Pediatric dentists are trained to spot signs of a crossbite during regular checkups. Taking children for routine exams twice a year helps detect and address any existing or developing crossbite early.
However, some signs may allow you to spot a crossbite on your own. When a crossbite develops, teeth shift positions and become misaligned, causing the following recognizable symptoms:
- Pain: Jaw pain may appear as a general sense of pain in the mouth, a sensation of pain in a single tooth, headaches, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
- Loose teeth: Missing teeth or tooth crowding can lead to individual teeth becoming loose.
- Facial asymmetry: Misaligned teeth from a crossbite condition can lead to uneven jaw growth and unbalanced facial features, potentially leading to the inability to close the mouth completely.
- Gum Disease: Shifting or loose teeth often lead to a receding gum condition.
- Tooth decay: Misaligned and loose teeth are often subject to issues with teeth grinding, like excessive enamel wear and resulting cavities. In more severe crossbite cases, teeth can impact on each other during chewing, which can eventually cause a chipped tooth.
Crossbite Treatment Options
Crossbites will not straighten out on their own, and no effective over-the-counter or home-based remedy exists. Therefore, orthodontic treatment is necessary to correct a crossbite condition.
Because crossbite treatment relies on repositioning the teeth or jaws, the best time to address a crossbite problem is during childhood, usually around age 7. However, treatment is also possible for adult teeth. Depending on your child’s specific treatment needs, your dentist or orthodontist can recommend one of the following choices:
Braces
Braces are a common and effective treatment for crossbite problems in children and adults. Treatment options include traditional braces, ceramic braces, and lingual braces. Braces may also be combined with other treatment options, including palate expanders.
Elastics
Elastics are rubber bands that apply extra force to a tooth or teeth in ways braces alone cannot. Elastics attach to hooks on upper and lower brackets and provide the necessary force to gradually move the lower or upper teeth in the direction needed. An orthodontist uses braces and elastics in various configurations to fix a variety of problems present in someone’s mouth.
Palate Devices
A palatal expander is an orthodontic treatment device that attaches to the upper teeth and rests against the roof of the mouth. Palatal expanders work by gradually widening the upper palate and raising the upper jaw. Palate expanders are best suited for children whose bone structure has not yet fully developed.
A fixed palatal crib is an appliance used to curb thumb sucking or inserting fingers into the mouth.
Removable Appliances
Similar to braces, removable appliances work by realigning teeth through gradual pressure and are suitable for both children and adults.
An example of a removable appliance is the Invisalign treatment. Invisalign clear aligners use sets of clear plastic aligner trays that are worn for about 22 hours a day. The size of the aligner sets switches every two weeks as the teeth reposition.
At Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry, our orthodontists are authorized Invisalign dentists who are trained to use Invisalign diagnostic equipment, such as the iTero Element scanner and ClinCheck software, to create a customized tooth alignment and smile recovery plan just for your child.
Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy, also known as orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), focuses on the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue. Its purpose is to improve the function and posture of these muscles, which can significantly impact overall health, including breathing, swallowing, speaking, and dental development.
Although myofunctional therapy does not rely on devices, it can be combined with device-based crossbite treatment. This therapy is helpful when a child engages in tongue-thrusting during swallowing or mouth breathing.
Tooth Removal or Jaw Realignment Surgery
In cases where braces, elastics, or other appliance-based treatment will not be enough to correct a crossbite, your child’s orthodontist may recommend tooth removal or jaw surgery as an alternative.
How Long Does It Take To Fix A Crossbite?
The time needed to fix a crossbite depends on its cause and severity. Braces or clear aligners may take a few months to over a year, while severe cases requiring surgery may need a longer recovery period.
Scottsdale Orthodontist Free Crossbite Consultation
At Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry, our child dentists and orthodontists specialize in children’s dental needs, including crossbite and other bite issues.If you think your child may have a crossbite condition, contact us for a free consultation or call us at (480) 422-4544. We can help you understand the exact nature of a misaligned bite problem, what is causing it, what treatments are available, and ways you can pay for them.
