Crossbite teeth, or simply crossbite, is a relatively common type of tooth misalignment condition. Statistics indicate that it occurs in an estimated 5 percent of the population. This condition can be a nuisance and if left unchecked, can severely impact a person’s oral health in a negative way.
To learn more about crossbite teeth, and to find ways to treat this condition before it becomes worse, read on. Finding out invisible braces prices may also be helpful for you.
What is Crossbite Teeth
In a perfectly balanced mouth, the upper teeth tend to overlap the teeth on the lower jaw slightly. A crossbite occurs when an individual has teeth—or in some cases, even a single tooth—in their upper jaw that sit behind their corresponding lower teeth.
There are two kinds of crossbite, depending on where in the mouth the misalignment occurs. These are:
- Anterior crossbite – This kind of crossbite affects the front teeth, where the upper incisor or canines sit behind their lower counterparts.
- Posterior crossbite – This kind of crossbite affects the back teeth, including the third molar if it is able to fully emerge.
Crossbite can sometimes be mistaken for another kind of tooth misalignment issue called underbite. In both cases, upper teeth sit behind their counterparts on the lower jaw. However, in the case of crossbite, the overlap only affects some of the upper teeth, while in the case of an underbite, all the upper teeth are affected.
Problems Caused By Crossbite Teeth
While crossbite teeth may seem like little more than an inconvenience, if left untreated, it can cause some serious oral health issues in people who have it. Some of these oral health issues include:
- Pain in the teeth or jaw – This is one of the most common complaints of patients with crossbites. Their teeth are almost constantly rubbing against one another in ways they aren’t meant to, which can cause them or the jaw to become sensitive and ache.
- Cavities and tooth decay – In a healthy mouth, the nooks and crannies that can trap food are relatively limited, but in a mouth with crossbite, these food traps tend to multiply. Once food particles are allowed to decay, teeth become very vulnerable to cavities.
- Halitosis – The foul or unpleasant smell that comes from the mouth of a person with this condition can make social interaction difficult or awkward. This condition could also indicate severe tooth decay.
- Sleep apnea – Snoring is much more than an inconvenience for anyone sharing a room. It’s also an indication of poor sleep and an inability of the body to relax and renew itself. In this case, the misalignment of the teeth can cause airflow to be restricted while the individual is sleeping, preventing them from reaching deep sleep stages.
In some cases, crossbite can even be an indication of a misalignment or malformation of the jaw bones themselves. As a result, patients with this kind of severe condition often complain of headaches, or pain in their neck and shoulders.
What Causes Crossbite Teeth?
There are two potential causes of crossbite teeth: genetics and external circumstances.
A person’s genes will determine almost everything about them, including how their bones and teeth grow and develop throughout their lives. These genes come from their parents, so if a parent or someone else in the family has a crossbite, the child is more likely to develop the condition.
Certain other external factors can impact whether a person develops a crossbite. For example, if an individual had a tendency to suck their thumbs until later in life, they would be more likely to develop tooth misalignment issues, including crossbites. To see if you need help with treating crossbite, book a consult today.
How Traditional Braces Fix Crossbite Teeth
Traditional metal braces can fix even severe cases of crossbite and other tooth malocclusions, as long as the patient is willing to deal with the inconveniences of having a mouth filled with wires and brackets.
How braces work is simple: the dentist applies constant tension to the teeth using the wires and brackets installed in the patient’s mouth. Over time, this causes the teeth to shift and move into their ideal position, until the desired effect is achieved.
How Invisible Braces Fix Crossbite Teeth
Invisible braces, sometimes called clear aligners, can remedy mild to moderate cases of crossbite just as well as traditional metal braces. Instead of wires and brackets, invisible braces make use of specially designed clear plastic trays that fit over the teeth. These trays are molded to the user’s teeth and mouth. Like traditional metal braces, they apply constant, gentle pressure to the teeth to move them into their optimal position.
Advantages of Invisible Braces in Fixing Crossbite Teeth
Invisible braces have a number of distinct advantages over traditional braces. These include:
- They are less conspicuous. Because they aren’t made of metal and or colored plastics, invisible braces draw less attention to themselves whenever their users wear them.
- They are removable. Invisible braces users can simply pop out their trays whenever they need to, such as while eating or drinking in public. Then, they can just put them back in after having cleaned them.
- There are fewer lifestyle and dietary restrictions with invisible braces. Users of braces are often told not to eat very sticky or crunchy foods, because these can damage the braces’ brackets or wires. These restrictions don’t apply to users of invisible braces.
- Maintenance is easy. Braces users typically need special tools to dislodge food particles from between wires or brackets. On the other hand, invisible braces users simply have to brush their teeth, then clean their trays to keep their mouths clean.
How ALINA Can Remedy Crossbite Teeth
ALINA can help patients uncover their true smiles and remedy most mild to moderate cases of crossbite. With us, beautiful smiles are just around the corner, because we provide:
- Better materials – Our trays are made from a space-age, FDA-approved material that’s hypoallergenic and perfectly clear.
- Better technology – Our AlinaSmile technology takes into consideration all of your facial features so you can achieve your most beautiful smile.
- Better results – ALINA has been the preferred name for beautiful smiles throughout the US, UK, and Canada for the last 25 years, with more than a million happy patients in that time.
To learn more about how to truly uncover your smile, learn more here about how ALINA works.
