Most orthodontic problems involve malacclusion, or improper alignment of the lower and upper teeth when chewing or biting.

Various kinds of malocclusions is possible. For the moment we'll disucss crossbites, a malocclusion where the upper teeth are biting inside the lower teeth.

Often times crossbites are the result of nasal allergies which cause the patient to breathe from the mouth. Continually congested nasal passages can lead to overgrowth of the nose’s interior.  Breathing from the mouth can also can lead to dry mouth,  other types of malocclusions and long-face syndrome (a longer, narrower face than normal.)

Crossbites can also be caused  a mismatch of jaw size and positioning between the lower and upper jaw. It also can result when teeth are reversed in position or by a narrow upper jaw.  

In some cases a crossbite can come from the delayed loss of baby teeth. Some patients retain their baby teeth for so long their permanent teeth emerge in directly behind their baby teeth, giving the look of a second row of teeth.

Dr. Kalim Sadiq has a specialist orthodontic practice servicing Sutton, Bromley, Croydon, East Croydon, South Norwood, Upper Norwood and the surrounding areas, and recommends patients with a crossbite for treament as soon as possible. The condition may lead to:

• An unattractive smile
  
• Excessive wear of the teeth
• Gum disease,
  
• Jaw deformity
• Improper chewing patterns
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

Several treatment options are available.
Contact Orchard Orthodontics at:
Tel: 020 8649 7500