Anterior and Posterior Crossbite in Kids

Crossbites can cause some considerable tooth and jaw conditions over time. For kids, it can be a painful or uncomfortable ordeal.

A crossbite is defined as an abnormal alignment of teeth. It occurs in one or more teeth due to deviation and alignment of the teeth or the jaw. Crossbites are more prevalent in children.

Despite the consequences of this condition, it can be corrected using various treatment procedures. So, whenever you notice something is wrong with the dental cavity on your kid, seek immediate medical assistance.

Crossbites may cause considerable tooth and gum wear, abnormal jaw development, and altered or impaired mouth function. This implies that your kid will have dental and bone issues in the future. Therefore, crossbites, according to dentists globally, must be treated.

This article will explore anterior and posterior crossbite in kids and treatment measures to restore your child’s dental health.

Causes of Crossbites

Crossbites may affect one or more teeth. They may also be present on both sides of the mouth. While they are often hereditary, other causes include:

• Unequal jaw sizes
• Delayed loss of milk teeth
• Frequent breathing through the mouth
• Excessive sucking of fingers or the thumb
• Trauma to the jaw
• Long-term use of pacifiers

Type Of Cross Bites

There are two main types of crossbites:

Anterior crossbite

An anterior crossbite occurs on the front teeth. The crossbite occurs whereby the upper teeth develop behind the lower front jaw. It is similar to an underbite.

The top front teeth often fall behind the bottom front teeth when the kid bites down.

Posterior Crossbites

Posterior crossbite occurs when one or more upper back teeth fall inside the bottom back teeth when the kid bites down.

Posterior crossbites develop from constricted upper jaw; sometimes, the lower jaw may be abnormally wide.

For posterior crossbite, the upper teeth are wider than your bottom teeth. In this case, the upper curve falls inside the lower teeth jaw.

The constricted jaw will force the victim to move the lower jaw to the sides.

Early treatment of anterior and posterior crossbites in kids

If a crossbite is not treated in infancy, other dental diseases and jaw problems are more likely to emerge in adulthood.

Adults can still be treated, but their options are restricted since their jaw and teeth have entirely developed.

For posterior crossbites, it is corrected using expanders on the palate. Sometimes a pediatric dentist may remove one or more teeth.

The correction involves using tools that are attached permanently to the molars. This will push or pull the upper front teeth forward.

When this is corrected, the upper teeth have to cross the lower teeth vertically.

If permanent teeth have already developed, braces are used to correct posterior and anterior crossbites.

Correction of anterior and posterior crossbites in kids is corrected with just simple expansion tools.

After determining the severity of your child’s crossbite, please consult with a dentist for expert advice on effectively fixing it. There are several treatments based on the type and position in the mouth.

Correction of Anterior and posterior crossbites in kids involves:

• braces
• retainers
• Removable palate expanders

Your pediatric dentists can establish the severity of your child’s crossbite and the best form of crossbite repair for them.

Removable Palate Expanders

In many milder instances, an appliance known as a rapid palatal expander( RPE) is attached to the upper teeth and gradually widened over several weeks to “open” out the jaw.

The RPE will then act as a retainer in your child’s mouth for three to five months. This realigns the jaw and secures the palate in place.

Braces

Braces can also help in the correction of anterior and posterior crossbites in kids. If just one tooth is in a crossbite, braces may efficiently shift the tooth into its proper position without using other orthodontic tools.

Invisalign

Invisalign aligners cover the full biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth, allowing a tooth with a crossbite to move freely without being influenced by the opposing teeth. This helps in the Correction of anterior and posterior crossbites in kids.

If you notice your kid has jaw misalignments or signs of a crossbite, reach out to a reputable dental health provider for immediate action. You can trust Baker Pediatric Dentistry for all crossbite treatments. For more information, call us at (208) 242-3846 or set up your appointment online today.

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