Crossbite — types, causes and treatment

• Anterior crossbite — the upper front teeth sit behind the lower front teeth (similar to an underbite).
• Posterior crossbite — the upper back teeth sit inside the lower back teeth.
• Buccal crossbite — teeth lean outwards towards the cheeks.
• Lingual crossbite — teeth lean inwards towards the tongue.
• Unilateral — only one side of the mouth is affected.
• Bilateral — both sides of the mouth are affected.
• Single-tooth — only one tooth is out of position.
• Segmental — a small group of teeth (typically two or three in a row) is affected.

• Genetics and jaw size
• Crowding of teeth
• Delayed loss of baby teeth
• Adult teeth erupting in the wrong direction
• Childhood habits — thumb sucking, mouth breathing
• Cleft lip and palate repairs

• Reduced risk of asymmetric jaw development
• Less uneven wear on teeth and gums
• Lower risk of bruxism (tooth grinding) and headaches
• Reduced cheek biting when eating
• Healthier gum and bone support around the teeth

Fixed braces with a palate expander. A common approach for both anterior and posterior crossbites. The expander widens the upper jaw so the teeth can meet correctly, with braces fine-tuning the position afterwards. Retainers hold the result.

Clear aligners. Mild crossbites can often be corrected with clear aligner systems such as ours. Suitability is confirmed after a 3D scan and clinical exam.

Elastics. Posterior crossbites can sometimes be treated using elastics anchored to brackets on the upper and lower teeth, gently pulling the misaligned tooth outwards over a few months.

Jaw (orthognathic) surgery.Severe crossbites with an underlying skeletal cause may require surgical repositioning of the jaw, alongside orthodontics before and after. Jaw surgery is not performed at London Braces; where it’s clinically indicated we’d refer you to an appropriate hospital maxillofacial team.

Yes. Adult crossbites can be treated with braces, clear aligners, elastics or — in severe skeletal cases — surgery. Adults often prefer clear aligners because they are near-invisible and removable. Whether they’re suitable for your case is confirmed at consultation.