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The Difference Between a Cross Bite and an Overbite In Orthodontic Care
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One of the cool things about the human mouth is that when you bite down, your teeth are supposed to align and rest precisely from the top to bottom. But, as we all know, nothing is perfect and sometimes those bites get out of whack. Two of the most common problems people have with their bites are cross bites and overbites.
Cross bites and overbites are both types of malocclusions, which literally means “poor bites”. They result from a mismatch in the bite of your top teeth and bottom teeth. If you have either a cross bite or an overbite, it is likely that your bottom jaw is smaller than your top jaw; this means that one side of your jaw touches the other when you close your mouth completely. The irregular alignment of your upper and lower teeth may be more severe on one side than the other. In such a case, you may have a stronger preference for food on one side rather than another.
What is a Cross Bite?
A cross bite is a dental condition in which one side of your upper jaw is shorter than the other side. This creates a misalignment between your top and bottom teeth; the shorter side of your upper jaw ends up pressing against the longer side of your lower jaw, making your top teeth cross over the bottom ones. A cross bite is largely a genetic condition. If your parents have one, you have a high chance of developing one yourself. A cross bite can also be caused by tooth grinding, clenching, or other dental habits. Cross bites are often accompanied by a misalignment between your jaw bones; one jaw is slightly higher than the other. This jaw misalignment can cause your face to appear unbalanced and make you look older than you are.
What is an Overbite?
An overbite is a dental condition in which one side of your bottom jaw is shorter than the other side. This creates a misalignment between your top and bottom teeth; the shorter side of your bottom jaw ends up pressing against the longer side of the top jaw, making your bottom teeth cover the top teeth. An overbite may be caused by tooth grinding, clenching, or other dental habits. Again, it may also be a genetic condition; if your parents have one, you have a high chance of developing one yourself. An overbite that is severe enough to be noticeable is usually treated with braces.
How to Tell If You Have a Cross Bite or an Overbite
If you have a cross bite, your top teeth will be closer to your lower lip when you chew, and you will have difficulty cleaning the space between your top teeth and your gum tissue. If you have an overbite, you will find that food gets stuck between your front teeth and your tongue, and you may need to push food away from your front teeth in order to chew. If you’re unsure whether you have a cross bite or an overbite, there are a few ways to find out. First, you can have your teeth evaluated by an orthodontist, who can examine your bite and determine whether you have an overbite or a cross bite.
How to Fix a Cross Bite or an Overbite With Braces
If you are diagnosed with a cross bite or an overbite, you may want to consider wearing braces to correct your bite. Wearing braces for at least 18 months is typically enough to correct a cross bite or an overbite. Cross bites can also be treated with braces, but they may require a different treatment plan than overbites. Your orthodontist will be able to determine the best treatment plan based on your bite.
Bottom line
A cross bite or an overbite is a condition caused by a misalignment of the upper and lower teeth. An overbite is when the lower teeth are too big for the upper teeth, and a cross bite is when the upper teeth are too big for the lower teeth. An overbite can be corrected with braces, whereas a cross bite will also require orthognathic surgery. If you suspect you have a cross bite or an overbite, be sure to see an orthodontist for a proper diagnosis. If your orthodontist diagnoses that you have one of these conditions, don’t worry—braces can correct either condition.
