Crossbite is something that affects many who seek corrective dental treatment. It is considered a fairly common dental condition by dentists and orthodontists. Having a crossbite can affect your smile and, unfortunately, your confidence. Luckily, there are treatment options available that can help alleviate the issues caused by crossbite. One such solution that is changing the lives of thousands of patients with a crossbite is Invisalign.
Invisalign can help fix other dental issues, too.
Invisalign Treatable Cases: Crossbite
Crossbite is the term dental professionals use to describe the condition which causes your top teeth to rest inside your lower teeth as opposed to outside your lower teeth. The condition is similar to an underbite; however, where an underbite affects all of your teeth, a crossbite only affects a small group of teeth. There are different types of crossbite, posterior and anterior, and each affects your mouth and other surrounding teeth differently. Learn more about how Invisalign can help you correct your crossbite with some helpful information.
What Causes A Crossbite?
There are two different causes for a crossbite: skeletal and dental. While these root causes may be different, both can be genetic, which means that if you have a crossbite, there is a chance your child may develop one as well. However, genes are not solely to blame for a crossbite. Circumstantial factors can cause a crossbite as well. If your baby teeth did not fall out during youth, or your adult teeth were delayed in developing, your mouth can develop a crossbite to compensate for this abundance of space in your mouth. For children, habits like mouth breathing and sucking their thumb late into childhood may cause crossbite.
What Issues can crossbite cause?
Unlike other dental issues that Invisalign treats, a crossbite is not just a cosmetic problem. A crossbite can be the root cause of a number of other issues, such as tooth flaking or chipping, jaw or tooth pain, sleep apnea, tooth decay, and difficulty forming and saying certain words. Although a crossbite can seem relatively harmless, allowing it to go untreated can pose some risks in certain circumstances. This is why consulting with your trusted dental professional is very important if you have been diagnosed with a crossbite.
Can Invisalign Treat A Crossbite?
Yes! Invisalign clear aligners can treat crossbites for many patients. They are most effective for mild misalignment but can be used to treat a variety of different crossbite situations. The process will begin with a consultation followed by some 3D imaging of your mouth to assess the degree of crossbite that needs correction and to plan the steps that will correct it. The duration of the treatment to fix crossbite will vary among patients, but each set of aligners is worn for a week before they are replaced with a new set. If there is only a mild misalignment, treatment could be effective within three months. However, for more severe alignment problems, treatment of up to 18 months may be necessary.
Advantages Of Using Invisalign To Treat A Crossbite
Perhaps the biggest advantage of using invisalign for dental alignment issues is the comfort of the treatment. There are no metal pieces, wires, or bands in Invisalign that can cause discomfort in patients who choose conventional braces. As the name suggests, Invisalign is also nearly invisible. You can wear them all day without anyone knowing, which makes Invisalign the perfect option for discrete dental correction. Their ease of cleaning when compared to traditional braces also makes them a great option because you don’t have to worry about food getting stuck in your braces when you use Invisalign. Most importantly, however, Invisalign is effective. It can be the perfect treatment option to make your smile everything you want it to be.
Consult with Northern Virginia Orthodontics about Invisalign
You should never let your smile affect your confidence. If you are experiencing dental issues caused by a crossbite, consult with your orthodontic professional at Northern Virginia Orthodontics to discuss your Invisalign treatment options that can correct your smile and boost your confidence.