Crossbite is one of the many commonly occurring dental problems affecting both children and adults. It is a form of teeth misalignment, whereby more than one tooth is not appropriately positioned. Crossbite can lead to several dental issues, too complex to handle. Rather than fall in the same line and in their rightful position, the teeth are packed too closely to the cheek and tongue.
If you have a crossbite, because of the alignment of the teeth, it will be difficult to bite food because your teeth would not fit together as they should; therefore, all bites will be distorted.
In a few cases, crossbite could be genetically inherited, if there’s a family member who had a crossbite, you have to seek orthodontic help to have your teeth inspected as soon as possible, especially if you notice any form of misalignment. Otherwise, crossbite could also be a result of circumstances you cannot handle, for instance, if you started developing permanent teeth while all your milk teeth have not fallen out.
All kinds of crossbite can cause unease and lead to dental complications such as pain in the jaws, and teeth loss. If left untreated, it may cause teeth chipping, and the enamel could wear off.
What Is A Crossbite?
Crossbite is a tooth condition where one or more teeth are placed in an irregular position. They can prevent jaws from fitting properly; this, in turn, makes speaking and eating a difficult task.
Crossbite, when ignored and not treated can cause complications to the jaws leading to abnormal growth of the jaws. This growth will make you look odd and will have a bad effect on the entirety of your facial form. Crossbite can also affect smiles and bring about low self-esteem.
Early loss of milk teeth, thumb sucking, using a pacifier or feeding bottle for a lengthy period, and growing adult teeth, when they are still losing baby teeth can cause crossbite in children. Therefore, children around age 6 and 7 should be given orthodontic care to check if they may develop any issues related to crossbite in the future.
There are two types of crossbite: Anterior Crossbite and Posterior Crossbite.
Anterior Crossbite
Anterior crossbite happens when the teeth beneath the front area point out more than the front upper teeth. This kind of crossbite affects only a small section of the world’s popularity, both children and adults. It can be treated if you consult your orthodontist.
Posterior Crossbite
Posterior crossbite is abnormal bites in the back teeth, which include the premolars and molars. It happens when the back teeth at the bottom protrude further than the top teeth at the bottom. The crossbite in this case takes place on both or just one side of the mouth.
They are more common as they affect a lot more people in the world’s population. It can be corrected using orthodontic methods of treatment, especially the use of an expander.
Symptoms of Crossbite
Some signs relate to a crossbite, and they are:
- Speaking of challenges or impediments, causing you to slur. If you also experience lisp when trying to speak, mispronouncing words, and finding it difficult to articulate properly.
- When the two lines of your teeth do not meet each other, and you face difficulties closing your mouth appropriately.
- Painful feeling in the jaw, as a result of too many teeth, packed too close inside the cheek.
- Constant biting on the inner tongue and cheeks especially while eating or speaking. The bites are often very painful and can hardly be controlled.
- Intense headache generated from jaw pain and insufficient sleep
If you experience several or all of these signs, then book an orthodontic appointment and have your teeth checked.
Effects Of Crossbite
Crossbite will not only stop you from having a confident grin it will cause you a few dental health challenges. These challenges may include:
Severe Headaches
When your teeth are not aligned properly, it completely affects the jaws and brings intense pain to the face. Crossbite is connected closely to headaches. It does not only happen in adults but also observed in children.
The headache is caused by strains on the muscles of the jaws, which connect with the neurons that travel to the brain. The nerves also move to the shoulder and neck region and cause rigorous pain.
Tooth Decay
You will have difficulties brushing teeth that are misaligned because of the improper shape and position. Because your teeth are not clean, this will lead to the accumulation of bacteria causing plaques, severe tooth decay, and tooth loss.
Painful Bites
Crossbite limits you from having a comfortable, healthy bite, biting hard fruits, for instance, will cause severe aches in your mouth, and you may not be able to enjoy certain food that comes your way. The painful bites are unbearable; seeking early orthodontic help and relevant treatment will save your teeth and you.
Treatment
The following are common crossbite treatment options:
- Expander; using maxillary or palatal expanders can be effective. It is removable and can be worn at night and taken off in the morning.
- Invisalign treatment or the use of braces, you can consult your dentist to recommend a good one.
- For severe cases, orthognathic surgery is the best treatment plan. Your jaw will be skillfully reconstructed, and customized oral devices will be used to align your teeth properly.
Conclusion
Your orthodontist will suggest the best procedure to fix your crossbite; therefore, choose an expert that knows the best treatment for your crossbite. Since you cannot necessarily control having improperly aligned teeth, it is okay to fix and bring it back to perfection.