|
Posted on 8/25/2017 by Clackamas Oral Surgery |
 A cross bite is more commonly found in children, but when left untreated, it can also affect an adult's dentition. If you have a cross bite, it is important you do what you can to get it treated as quickly as possible. The longer it remains a problem, the more damage your cross bite can do.
A cross bite is when your teeth fit together normally in one part of your mouth, but are not positioned right to fit together on the opposite side of the mouth. This can be a disparity between the left and right sides of the mouth, or even between the top and bottom teeth. How to Fix a Cross BiteThe younger you are, the easier fixing a cross bite is. For children, they will see their pediatric dentist or pediatric oral surgeon and have an expander put into their mouth to help separate the teeth, leaving more room for the teeth to come in and fit together properly. However, for adults, this process is not quite as simple. For an adult with a cross bite, sometimes an oral surgeon will have to go in and perform a surgically-assisted expansion. This involves the oral surgeon breaking the jaw bone in a few different spots, realigning the jaw, then wearing a device customized to hold the jaw in the proper place. Once the healing is done and the device is removed, your cross bite should be gone. The best thing to do is deal with a cross bite when you are younger. The older you get, the harder it becomes to treat this issue. Sometimes simple braces can go a long way towards helping with a cross bite, but it is up to your oral surgeon in the end. To find out more, go in for a consultation. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (503) 652-8080 today. |
 |
