Malocclusion: crossbite

With a lateral crossbite, the lower back teeth bite over the upper back teeth. A crossbite can occur on one side or on both sides.

Why treat it?

There are several very good reasons to treat a crossbite.

• Crooked face: Patients with a crossbite often notice that their upper and lower teeth do not meet correctly. This results in an unbalanced bite, which can not only lead to facial asymmetry (a crooked face) but also affect self-confidence. 
• Pain: With a unilateral crossbite, the lower jaw is forced to bite in a particular direction. In some cases, this leads to overloading of the jaw joint. As a result, clicking or considerable pain in the jaw, head or neck can occur.
• Digestive problems: Difficulty chewing is common and can affect food intake. This can lead to digestive problems, as the food is not broken down properly.
• Speech problems: Speech problems can also occur. An incorrect bite can affect the way the tongue and teeth interact, which can lead to unclear pronunciation and difficulties with articulation.
• Tooth wear: Because the teeth do not mesh together exactly, the teeth wear down heavily. As a result, severely worn tooth crowns can be seen even in young adults. 

Recommended treatment method

Depending on the severity, purely orthodontic treatment (with aligner treatment or fixed braces) or combined orthodontic and surgical treatment may be appropriate. If an entire side of the jaw (right/left) is in crossbite in an adult, surgical correction is usually necessary. If only individual teeth are in crossbite, purely orthodontic treatment will achieve the goal. Treatment takes approximately 12–24 months.

The first treatment example shows purely orthodontic treatment with Invisalign.

However, crossbites can also be corrected with fixed braces – as in this example.

Complex crossbites are treated with combined orthodontic and surgical treatment, as in the following example.