What Is A Cross Bite?

A person that has a cross bite has upper teeth that are inside of the lower teeth when they bite down. This occurs when the upper jaw is narrow and it is also caused by upper and lower jaws that do not match in size and is often genetic. The back teeth often cross over the bottom teeth ending up on the wrong side when closed and not on the other side, this is usually only on one side of the mouth the upper teeth close inside the bottom teeth.

The cross bite is a serious problem that can not only have effects on the teeth if not corrected it can also have an effect on the nasal passages being narrow, this can make it more difficult to breath. It is also important that the cross bite be correct at an early age while the bones are still growing and this condition can be corrected not only for the teeth but also for widening of the nasal passages.

Another problem that can occur with the cross bite is that is not corrected is severe TMJ, because the jaw does not swing properly against the fossa and the skull where the bones fit together. As a result of this, there will be popping and clicking noises in the jaw area and the bones can be worn in a abnormal shape. As the person with a uncorrected cross bite ages and TMJ becomes worse along with the other problems it can become extremely painful.