What Is a Crossbite?
In a normal bite, your upper teeth sit slightly outside your lower teeth when you close your mouth—kind of like a lid on a box. With a crossbite, one or more of your upper teeth sit inside your lower teeth instead.
There are two types:
- Posterior crossbite: Affects your back teeth (most common)
- Anterior crossbite: Affects your front teeth (less common but needs early treatment)
Some crossbites affect just one side of your mouth, while others affect both sides. You might have a crossbite on individual teeth or across multiple teeth.
Follow Us
Why Does a Crossbite Need Treatment?
Here’s why orthodontists take crossbites seriously, especially in kids:
- Uneven jaw growth: When a child has a crossbite, they often shift their jaw to one side to chew comfortably. Over time, this can cause the jaw to grow asymmetrically, potentially leading to facial asymmetry.
- Tooth wear: Crossbite teeth don’t fit together properly, which causes uneven and excessive wear on tooth enamel.
- Gum recession: The abnormal forces on teeth in crossbite can damage the gums and bone supporting those teeth.
- TMJ problems: The jaw shifting and abnormal bite patterns associated with crossbites can contribute to jaw joint issues.
The earlier a crossbite is corrected—especially in children—the better the outcome tends to be.
How Dr. Henry Treats Crossbites
Treatment depends on whether the crossbite is dental (teeth in the wrong position) or skeletal (jaw size issue), and how old you are when treatment begins.
- Palatal Expander is one of the most effective treatments for posterior crossbites in children and young teens. This appliance gradually and gently widens the upper jaw, which is easy to do while kids are still growing. The process is painless and typically takes just a few months.
- Braces or Invisalign can correct crossbites by moving individual teeth into the proper positions. For adults whose jaws are no longer growing, braces are often the primary treatment method.
- Elastics and bite turbos help guide your bite into the correct relationship during treatment.
- Early intervention appliances for young children (ages 7-9) can prevent crossbites from worsening and guide proper jaw development.
Why Early Treatment Matters
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Crossbites are a big reason why—they’re much easier to correct while the jaw is still growing.
That doesn’t necessarily mean your child will start treatment at age 7, but it does mean Dr. Henry can identify any crossbite issues and recommend the ideal timing for treatment. Sometimes early intervention can prevent the need for more extensive treatment later.
What to Expect
If your child needs a palatal expander, you’ll turn a small screw in the appliance at home following Dr. Henry’s instructions. It sounds intimidating, but parents tell us it’s much easier than they expected, and kids adapt to the expander quickly.
For patients being treated with braces or Invisalign, crossbite correction happens as part of your overall treatment plan. You’ll have regular check-ins at our St. Johns office so Dr. Henry can monitor your progress.
Get Your Crossbite Evaluated
If you’ve been told you or your child has a crossbite, or if you suspect something isn’t quite right with how the teeth fit together, Dr. Henry can provide a thorough evaluation and explain your treatment options. Contact Henry Advanced Orthodontics in St. Johns, conveniently located for families in St. Augustine and Jacksonville.
Talk to An Expert.
