Crossbite
In a crossbite one or more teeth bite inside their opposite number instead of outside. It sounds minor, but crossbites cause uneven wear, gum recession and can force the whole jaw to shift sideways when you close.
Ready to book your appointment?
Send us your details and we'll be in touch — usually within one working day.
Small mismatch, big consequences.
A single tooth in crossbite concentrates force in the wrong direction, often causing recession on one side and chipping on the other. Over years the difference becomes obvious.
Posterior crossbites frequently make the jaw deviate to one side to find a comfortable closing position, which loads one joint far more than the other and drives asymmetric wear.
Signs of a crossbite.
The signs vary, but most people notice one or more of these:
- 01Teeth meeting the wrong way round on one side
- 02Jaw shifting sideways as you close
- 03Recession on one specific tooth
- 04Chipped edges concentrated in one area
- 05Chewing predominantly on one side
- 06Facial asymmetry when smiling
Where it comes from.
The most common culprits:
Don't wait it out.
Speak to your our practice dentist if you're experiencing any of the following — book an appointment as soon as you can:
- —Your jaw slides to one side when you bite.
- —One tooth is receding or chipping.
- —You chew almost exclusively on one side.
- —Your child has a crossbite — earlier is easier.
In discomfort right now?
Crossbites are usually painless but the asymmetric loading can cause joint or muscle pain. Persistent one-sided jaw ache should be assessed.
A plan, not a quick fix.
We record your bite, measure how far the jaw deviates and check the joints. Treatment ranges from expansion and aligners to fixed braces, ideally earlier in children while the jaws are still developing.
