Everything You Need
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Palatal Expanders in
Orthodontics
Dental crossbite
• A dental crossbite is a condition where the
upper teeth are positioned behind the lower
teeth when the jaw is closed, instead of the
normal alignment where the upper teeth
slightly overlap the lower teeth.
Types of dental crossbite
1. Anterior Crossbite: This occurs when the upper front teeth sit behind the lower
front teeth when the jaw is closed.
2. Posterior Crossbite: In this case, one or more upper teeth fit inside the lower
teeth when the jaw is closed. It can affect one side (unilateral) or both sides
(bilateral).
3. Bilateral Crossbite: When both sides of the upper teeth fit inside the lower
teeth, it's referred to as a bilateral crossbite. This can occur in the front (anterior
bilateral crossbite) or the back (posterior bilateral crossbite) of the mouth.
4. Unilateral Crossbite: This involves one side of the upper teeth fitting inside
the lower teeth while the other side aligns normally. It can occur both in the
front (anterior unilateral crossbite) or the back (posterior unilateral crossbite) of
the mouth.
5. Dental Midline Crossbite: In this case, the center of the upper and lower teeth
does not align when the jaw is closed.
1. Genetics: An inherited predisposition to dental issues can contribute to
crossbite. If a person's parents have dental alignment problems, there's a
higher likelihood of the child having them too.
2. Abnormal Jaw Growth: Irregular growth of the upper or lower jaw can
lead to crossbite. This can be due to genetics, childhood habits like
thumb sucking, or certain medical conditions affecting jaw development.
3. Early Loss of Primary Teeth: Premature loss of primary (baby) teeth
can affect the alignment of permanent teeth, potentially leading to
crossbite as permanent teeth erupt.
4. Delayed Eruption of Permanent Teeth: If permanent teeth do not erupt
at the expected times or are delayed due to various reasons, it can disrupt
the normal alignment of teeth and contribute to crossbite.
5. Thumb Sucking or Tongue Thrusting: Persistent habits like thumb
sucking or tongue thrusting can exert pressure on teeth, causing them to
shift and leading to crossbite.
6- Oral Habits: Certain oral habits such as mouth breathing can affect the
positioning of teeth and jaws, increasing the risk of crossbite.
7- Trauma: Trauma to the face or jaw can disrupt the alignment of teeth,
leading to crossbite.
8- Crowding or Spacing: Irregular spacing or crowding of teeth can also
contribute to crossbite by affecting the way teeth come together.
9- Impacted Teeth: Impacted teeth, which fail to emerge through the gums
properly, can affect the surrounding teeth' alignment and contribute to
crossbite.
10- Maxillary Expansion: In some cases, a narrow upper jaw may cause a
posterior crossbite, which can be corrected through orthodontic treatment
involving expansion of the maxilla (upper jaw).
11- Mandibular Asymmetry: Asymmetry in the lower jaw can cause a
unilateral crossbite where the teeth on one side of the mouth do not properly
align with the corresponding teeth on the opposite side.
