The dentist says you have a crossbite – what does that mean? It’s a common dental issue. While it won’t straighten out on its own, treatment options are available to correct it.
A crossbite, sometimes called an underbite, is a form of malocclusion. It means your teeth don’t line up correctly when you close your mouth. It can affect one or two teeth or a group of teeth, like your front or back teeth.
Everything went great today for her surgery but I do have some feedback about other things. My daughter was scheduled to be put to sleep to undergo a root canal. They ended up needing more anthesia which I was willing to pay for. Surgery was supposed to be an hour (I was told this before they started), and it ended up being 2 hours because of some minor complications. Noone came to the lobby to inform us. When it was over, I asked to see her. They said I had to pay first. I just paid almost 5k and they were more worried about an additional $300 before allowing me to see my daughter? This didn't sit right. I didn't say anything. I paid the bill and went to see my daughter. Dr. Hoffman is the nicest man I have ever met! He was outstanding.
Also, in the weeks before her surgery, the office appeared to not communicate. I would receive a call saying one thing then someone else would say another. They were never on the same page.
Last week, they needed to speak with me to confirm a few things. They called me at 8:16am then again at 1:06pm. Leaving me a voicemail that if they do not hear from me they were going to cancel her surgery. Wow! I work. I work 8am-5pm. I do not have access to my phone during those hours. They did leave a voicemail and I would have called the next day but they did not give me a chance before sending me an email threatening to cancel.
Also, they had called me several weeks before to inform me I had no insurance. I called my insurance company and they said I did. Not sure what happened but it resulted in unnecessary phone calls during my only free 20 minutes at work.
If your appointment is at 10am, do not plan on seeing anyone for awhile. All our appointments ran an hour behind.
I think Dr. Hoffman is wonderful but the office staff needs some help.
Not friendly at all. Noone even smiled!
The nurses in the room with my daughter were great too.
I went to nervous and 3 to 4 hours later, I essentially woke up in the car on my way home without realizing anything had happened. If you have trauma with previous dental issues, this is the place. I have a had severe dental trauma my entire life. Until now, they are all fantastic.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We’re grateful our team could help provide a comfortable experience and appreciate your trust in us.
Our experience was wonderful. Our Down’s Syndrome son is very apprehensive about his appointments, but Dr. Thoms and all of his staff made our son more compliant. Each member seems vested in their job and are so kind and caring. Thank you for a positive experience.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad your family had a positive experience. Our team takes great pride in providing compassionate, individualized care, and your feedback means so much to us!
Everyone is always very welcoming and professional.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad our team makes you feel welcome. We truly appreciate your support!
There are various treatments for crossbites and underbites. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we can help you understand what causes it and how to treat this dental problem.
Types of Crossbites
With a normal bite, your upper teeth should be wider and sit on the outside of your bottom teeth. Each of your upper teeth touches the matching lower teeth so that the force when you chew is evenly distributed across your mouth.
If you have a crossbite, movements such as chewing and clenching cause irregular wear and damage to your teeth and jaw. There are two main types of crossbite:
Posterior crossbite – This occurs when your upper back teeth sit inside your bottom teeth. It may happen on only one side of your mouth or both sides. This type of crossbite affects a more significant percentage of the population and is relatively easy to correct.
Anterior crossbite – This is when one or more of your upper teeth sit behind your lower front teeth. This is unlike an underbite which occurs when all of your top teeth are behind your bottom teeth.
Causes of a Crossbite
There are various causes of a crossbite. They are typically caused by skeletal or dental issues or a combination of the two. Tooth growth delays, habits, upper airway problems, problems with bone structure, or genetics can cause it.
Specific causes of crossbites include the following:
Our teeth and bones can be pushed and twisted out of shape for various reasons. When teeth are missing or come in late, other teeth shift and drift, which causes alignment and structural issues.
How a Crossbite is Treated
The earlier the treatment, the better. A crossbite doesn’t straighten out on its own, so treating it early on, if possible during childhood, is suggested. However, a crossbite can be corrected at any age.
If your child has a crossbite, you’ll want to get them into an orthodontist as early as age 7 or 8 to begin treatment. The type of treatment used will depend on the severity and cause of the crossbite. Common crossbite treatments include:
Braces
Palatal expander
Clear aligners
Fixed palatal crib
Removable appliances
Myofunctional therapy
If you have questions about your teeth or treatment, contact The Dental Anesthesia Center. We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver the gentle dental care you deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
