Can Traditional Braces Fix Crossbite?
Across the street from a community fishing lake in Fountain City, TN is Myers Orthodontics. Led by Dr. Beau Myers, the orthodontics facility corrects crooked teeth issues with braces or Invisalign in children, teens, and adults. The environment is fun and relaxing to calm your mind and body while we work on improving your smile. One solution we use is braces. It corrects many orthodontist issues, including crossbites.
What Are Crossbite Teeth?
They are a dental issue where your top and bottom teeth are not even. Crossbites have a few, some, or most upper teeth growing in front or behind the bottom teeth. You notice it when you smile. The bottom teeth are more noticeable, and the upper teeth are uneven, hidden, or have gaps. You also spot it on your face. The chin and jaw lean more to the left or right side. Common crossbites are anterior and posterior; the others are buccal, bilateral, and unilateral. Contact Myers Orthodontics for more information on crossbites.
Chewing, brushing, and flossing crossbite teeth is difficult. If left untreated, they cause oral issues later in life, and you will need adult orthodontics in Knoxville to correct them. Some issues are cheek biting, gum disease, tooth decay, and headaches.
Can Braces Alone Correct Crossbites?
Braces can correct crossbite issues in some cases. After an examination, the Fountain City family orthodontist will insert them into your mouth and monitor its progress. The orthodontist will determine how long to wear braces and how often to check in for progress. For example, people with severe crossbites need braces for an average of two years.
Sometimes, surgery is necessary to correct crossbites before you begin treatment. In other cases, braces need help correcting teeth. Examples are a rubber band, a helix expander, or a rapid palatal expander. Rubber bands move uneven jawlines into an even position. A helix expander widens the jawline to make the mouth and smile even. A rapid palatal expander widens the teeth and bones to even out the mouth and smile in severe cases.
Rapid palatal expanders work better in children and teenagers because their bones are still growing. They can adapt to orthodontic jaw and tooth corrections before the teeth settle permanently. Adults cannot use rapid palatal expanders because their bones stop growing, so alternative solutions are mandatory. If they risk it, they may break facial bones and teeth. For more information about adult orthodontics in Knoxville, contact Myers Orthodontics.
Braces are inexpensive compared to Invisalign or other treatment options. So, it makes sense that you might want braces to correct crossbites. Luckily, they can. However, the timeframe may not be appealing. When you visit the Fountain City family orthodontist office, we can decide if braces are something you will wear long-term. Contact Myers Orthodontics for all your oral care needs.