Crossbite
A normal bite has the upper teeth biting over the lower teeth, with the upper arch wider than the lower arch. In a crossbite
situation, the upper jaw is narrow and the lower jaw will shift to one side in order to get a functional bite. This situation becomes evident after complete eruption of the
primary dentition (between ages 2-3). Left untreated, the mandible will continue to grow asymmetrically, due to the functional shift. All crossbites should be corrected in the
early mixed dentition, after the 6-year molars are erupted. Treatment is with an expansion appliance and we use a fixed appliance (Hyrax). This appliance is effective as long
as the palatal suture has not fused (i.e. the patient is still growing). In adults, correction is accomplished with jaw surgery. Otherwise, one can opt not to have the
crossbite corrected as long as there are no other problems.
Problem: Bilateral posterior crossbite in a 9 yrs 7 mos old boy due
to a very narrow upper jaw. The upper lateral incisors are also in crossbite.
Treatment: Phase I treatment with
Hyrax appliance for 9 months followed by partial upper braces for 3 months.
Problem:
Class
II Div 1 mixed dentition malocclusion with right posterior crossbite in an 8 year old girl.
Treatment:
Phase I
treatment with
Hyrax expansion appliance and partial upper braces for 12 months.
Problem:
Class
II Div 1 malocclusion with right posterior crossbite in 14 year old girl.
Treatment:
Hyrax palatal
expansion appliance together with full braces for 2 years.
Problem:
Class II Div 1 malocclusion in adult who had braces with removal of four teeth as a teenager. She does not like the crowding in her upper and lower front
teeth and is not interested in getting her crossbite corrected, which would require jaw surgery.
Treatment:
Limited treatment with upper and lower partial braces for 7 months. The upper teeth were
reduced in width to correct the crowding and fixed retainers were cemented to retain the correction.
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