There is no denial about the fact that dental conditions can be hard to handle if you are not being vigilant about them. Taking care of your teeth should be given priority but most people take it lightly and end up facing serious dental issues. The one dental condition that is very common to happen but people are still unaware about it. Crossbite can severely and negatively affect teeth alignment. This can affect the confidence of a person while smiling or talking to someone else. However, to combat this dental issue, it is essential to know everything about it in detail. Thus, keep reading.
Understanding crossbite
When your teeth are not aligned, it leads to the condition of crossbite. Most people don’t know about this condition until it gets worse. Crossbite occurs when an individual’s upper teeth fit behind the lower teeth. It mostly happens when the mouth is closed or is in resting mode. Crossbite affects teeth that are placed in the front or towards the back.
Moreover, crossbite somehow matches with the situation of underbite. These conditions are a part of dental malocclusion. However, there is a difference between them. A condition of crossbite can severely impact a few sets of teeth. Whereas, underbite can impact the entire set of teeth. Facing crossbites can lead to various complications. Plus, an individual can face painful symptoms. But with the right dental treatment, it can be cured.
How are crossbites classified?
Crossbite condition has two classifications, such as:
- Anterior
This dental condition occurs when a group of the teeth present in the mouth’s bottom front fit over the top jaw’s teeth.
- Posterior
This dental condition occurs when a few lower teeth present in the back of the mouth fit the top jaw’s teeth.
What are the causes of facing a crossbite dental condition?
There are two crossbite causes. This are considered to be: dental causes as well as skeletal causes:
- Genetics
Skeletal as well as dental causes can be due to genetics. In other words, if anyone in your family previously had crossbite then there is a high chance of you or any other family member developing this condition as well.
- Circumstantial factors
While understanding crossbite, the circumstantial factors should be considered as well. There are factors such as baby’s teeth not becoming loose or falling out, delay in coming of the adult teeth, jawline developing crossbite, and much more.
However, if a person is used to mouth breathing or a child sucks a thumb then it can lead to crossbite. Also, there are many other crossbite causes like missing teeth, tongue thrust, small jaw, cleft palate, cleft lip, big teeth, and much more.
What are the issues caused by the crossbite condition?
A crossbite is not only a cosmetic problem. However, for adults, who are already facing crossbite which can cause various symptoms, such as:
- A painful jaw or painful teeth
- Decaying of teeth
- Sleep apnea
- Loose teeth
- Receding gums
- Constant headaches
- Temporomandibular disorders
- Problems while speaking and creating specific sounds
- Enable breakdown
- Unbalanced facial features
- Uneven jaw growth
- Neck pain or shoulder muscle pain
Crossbite condition: The best corrective measures
Crossbite condition is not going to go on its own. This is why getting it treated by the best dentist is the right solution. However, if a kid or person is facing crossbite then it is better to get it treated at the earliest. Also, if a kid is facing it then it is essential that it gets fixed when the jaw and face are in its developing position. Also, the treatment plan is suggested as per the cause or severity of the issue.
Crossbite correction measures or treatments are simple to follow, such as:
- Palatal expander
This is known to be an appliance that gets attached to the upper teeth. Plus, it is designed in such a way that it sits on the mouth’s roof. However, an orthodontist will help in adjusting it periodically. This is done to slowly help in widening the palate and jaw.
- Braces
Getting braces can be helpful in getting crossbite fixed. These are the appliances that help in pressuring the bones and teeth. It is effective in keeping the teeth in the right position. There is a possibility of getting palate expanders and braces together.
- Clear aligners
Clear aligners are known to be removable braces. These are made of clear plastic. Clear aligners helpful in fixing misaligned teeth. This is a simple way and can be easily opted by people.
- Myofunctional therapy
This therapy is effective in teaching the right way to chew and even shallow. This helps the tongue to not push the teeth from its original place. Also, it is effective in learning the right way to breathe via the nose. This therapy can be opted for before or while getting other treatments.
- Fixed palatal crib
This is known to be a mouth appliance. It is effective in stopping the thumb or the habit of finger-sucking. Many young kids have a habit of sucking their thumb, and this gets fixed by their own or by parent coaching. However, if this habit persists then an orthodontist can use a fixed palatal crib to get rid of this habit.
- Removable appliance
If there is a situation where you have the upper front teeth behind the bottom teeth. This is where an orthodontist will use a spring along with the removable appliance. The spring will create pressure on the teeth and allow them to move forward. Also, the appliance is helpful in keeping the teeth right in place. Getting removable appliances can be opted for younger kids. This is effective because their jaws are still at the growing stage.
Is it necessary to get the crossbite correction?
It can be a personal choice to not get a crossbite correction. But it is essential to keep in mind that there are many downsides to not getting it corrected. An individual can get various dental conditions. The misaligned teeth can be hard to clean and can lead to various risks like dental decay or gum issues. Also, an individual can face various chronic conditions linked to this problem.
Conclusion
There is no denying that getting crossbite is very common. However, it can lead to various complications if not treated at the right time. The above-mentioned information will help you understand this condition in a better way. Plus, you will get to know about its causes, treatments, and much more. Also, getting it treated by the best dentist in Bangalore can save you from many dental mishaps. Smile Zone Dental Speciality Centre can provide all the dental care and crossbite solutions under one roof.