
Treatment of crossbite ranges from smile designing to jaw surgery. Read on to know some treatment options that are available, depending on the type of crossbite that a person has…
They say that dental problems are far more common than even common cold. And it’s little wonder that just like always, ‘they’ are right. Whether it is a begrudging and long overdue visit to the dentist for a toothache that’s been nagging you for weeks or whether it’s the yellowing of your teeth which is making you resemble Voldemort more and more by the minute, we all need to go to the dentist some or the other time. However, one of the most common complaints, after a toothache, is malocclusion. In simple words, malocclusion implies crooked or misaligned teeth. In this category, one of the most common problems is crossbite. When we close our mouth, ideally, the lower teeth are placed just behind the upper teeth. But sometimes, the lower teeth, on closing of the mouth, may be positioned in front of the upper teeth. This is known as a crossbite. Crossbite treatment ranges from surgery to orthodontic treatment. The various options available have been enlisted below.
Smile Designing
One of the lesser feasible options for dealing with a crossbite is with the help of smile designing. If the crossbite is minor and only the incisal edges, that is, the tips of the teeth are in crossbite, then the dentist can simply trim the edges as a part of tooth preparation and then, provide the person with dental crowns that are not in crossbite. This is an option for crossbite in adults, where the crossbite is very mild in nature.
Orthodontic Treatment
One of the most common options for dealing with crossbite in children is making use of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic braces are appliances that are placed on the teeth and with the help of wires and brackets, the teeth are then moved into a desirable position in the arch. This is one of the best options for crossbite in children, because this can even help correct other problems like crowding teeth. This is, however, an option only if there is a purely dental crossbite, that is, the teeth are misaligned in the arch but the jaws are in their proper place.
Jaw Surgery
When a person has a skeletal crossbite, that is, if the jaws are mispositioned, then orthodontic treatment cannot be of much help. There are cases where a person may have a complete crossbite. In such cases, there is no option but to resort to a crossbite surgery. This is one of the best options when it comes to multiple posterior crossbite treatment. In this surgery, the lower jaw is positioned and placed backwards, or the upper jaw is brought forward, or both, depending on the position of the jaws. This jaw surgery may be a bit complicated, but is the only option available when a person has a skeletal crossbite. This is often followed by orthodontic treatment, so as to fine-tune the results and get rid of any other malocclusion problems that a person may have.
This was all about the various options that are available for crossbites. Posterior and anterior crossbite treatment is important to ensure that not only is the bite of the person proper, but that even the jaw closing position is proper. Also, when a person has problems like a crossbite, he often finds it difficult to clean his teeth properly and maintain his dental health. Thus, besides the obvious aesthetic reasons, one must opt for the treatment if he has a crossbite, so that he is able to exercise proper dental care and of course, so that he finally gets that dreamy set of pearly whites he’s always wanted.