Discover why treating a crossbite early can help prevent future dental and jaw problems.
You catch your daughter's smile in the rearview mirror and notice her top teeth sitting inside her bottom teeth on one side. Maybe your family dentist mentioned the word crossbite at a checkup, and you have been quietly worrying about it since. Or you have noticed your child's jaw sliding slightly to one side every time they bite down.
Dr. Brandon Boggan, who holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) and a Master of Science (MS) in orthodontics, founded Ortho South in 1999 and has spent more than 25 years evaluating and correcting bite problems for families in Pelham, Calera, and the surrounding Shelby County communities. Alongside Dr. Zehra Syed, who is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), our team sees crossbites nearly every week.
Here is the reassuring part: a crossbite is one of the most treatable bite problems in orthodontics. The real questions are when to treat it and how. This article answers both.
What Exactly Is a Crossbite?
A crossbite is a type of bite problem, or malocclusion, in which some of the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth when the mouth is closed. Instead of the top teeth closing slightly outside the bottom teeth, the bite is reversed in one or more spots.
A crossbite can involve a single tooth or several, on one side of the mouth or both.
Orthodontists group crossbites into two main types:
- Posterior crossbite: the back upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth, often because the upper jaw is narrow.
- Anterior crossbite: one or more upper front teeth sit behind the lower front teeth, which can look like an underbite.
What Causes a Crossbite?
Most crossbites come from a mix of genetics and childhood habits. According to the AAO, common causes include inherited jaw size and shape, baby teeth that stay in place too long, adult teeth that erupt in the wrong position, and prolonged habits such as thumb sucking.
Crossbites are one of the most common bite alignment issues we evaluate, and parents rarely could have prevented one. What matters is what happens next.
Will a Crossbite Fix Itself?
No. A crossbite does not correct itself as a child grows. In our experience, the opposite is more common: the jaw adapts around the problem instead.
When teeth do not meet properly, children often shift the lower jaw to one side to find a comfortable bite. Over time, the jaw muscles and joints learn that shifted position, and growth can start to follow it. That is why a bite that looks like a small cosmetic quirk at age 6 can become a jaw symmetry issue by the teenage years.
What Happens If a Crossbite Is Not Treated?
An untreated crossbite tends to create slow, quiet problems rather than sudden ones. The AAO notes that over time, a crossbite can lead to the jaw shifting to one side, asymmetric jaw growth, and excessive or abnormal enamel wear.
In severe cases left unaddressed for years, correction can eventually require jaw surgery. Uneven bites can also make chewing less comfortable and leave people hiding their smile, and protecting long-term smile health is exactly why we treat them. We cover the bigger picture in our related guide to correcting jaw alignment and bite issues.
None of that is meant to alarm you. A crossbite discovered today, at any age, has good treatment options.
The point is simpler: waiting does not make treatment easier, and acting early usually makes it shorter and gentler.
When Should a Crossbite Be Treated?
The AAO recommends that every child be screened by an orthodontist at age 7. That early visit is the whole idea behind our 747 Club at Ortho South, which gets kids in for a first look while their bite is still developing. At that age, we can see how the jaws are growing and catch a crossbite before it shapes that growth.
Early treatment matters with crossbites more than with almost any other bite problem. Three ideas explain why:
At Ortho South, crossbites caught around that first age-7 visit consistently need simpler, shorter treatment than the same problems we first meet in the mid-teens. That is our clinical experience across more than 25 years, and it lines up with the AAO's finding that early care can prevent more invasive treatment later.
Missed that window? You have not missed your chance. It simply means we plan treatment around the growth that remains, or around tooth movement alone.
How Do Orthodontists Fix a Crossbite?
Three tools do most of the work of jaw correction and crossbite repair: palatal expanders, braces, and clear aligners. The right choice depends on the type of crossbite, its severity, and the patient's age. Many treatment plans combine two of them.
Palatal Expanders
A palatal expander gently widens a narrow upper jaw over time. According to the AAO, an expander can correct a crossbite by widening the underlying bone, which helps prevent uneven wear, gum recession, asymmetric jaw growth, and jaw problems.
Expanders work best in growing children and young teenagers because the upper jaw develops in two halves that have not yet fully fused. Active widening typically happens through small, gradual adjustments over several weeks, and then the appliance stays in place to let the jaw stabilize.
Braces
Braces move individual teeth precisely into position using brackets and wires, which makes them a reliable choice for anterior crossbites and for fine-tuning the bite after expansion. For patients who want a lower-profile look, we also offer ceramic braces at both our Pelham and Calera offices.
Clear Aligners
Clear trays such as Invisalign ® and our in-house Shift Aligners can correct many mild to moderate crossbites, especially those caused by tooth position rather than jaw width. Aligners are removable, nearly invisible, and popular with teens and adults alike.
As Alabama's most experienced aligner provider, we treat crossbites with aligners regularly and can tell you quickly whether a bite is a good aligner case.
| Treatment | Best For | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Palatal expander | Posterior crossbites from a narrow upper jaw, in growing children and young teens | Widens the jaw itself; gradual adjustments over weeks, then a stabilizing period |
| Braces | Anterior crossbites, complex bites, and fine-tuning after expansion | Precise tooth-by-tooth control; ceramic options available for a subtler look |
| Clear aligners | Mild to moderate crossbites caused by tooth position, in teens and adults | Removable, discreet clear trays; success depends on consistent wear |
Can Adults Get a Crossbite Fixed?
Yes. Adults can have a crossbite corrected as long as their teeth, gums, and supporting bone are healthy.
Because adult jaws are no longer growing, we rely on braces and clear aligners rather than growth-guiding appliances. A severe skeletal crossbite may require an oral surgeon to work alongside the orthodontist.
Many adult patients choose aligners because they are hard to notice at work and easy to remove for meals. If you have lived with an uneven bite for years, it is worth a conversation. Correcting it is usually far more achievable than people expect.
How Long Does Crossbite Correction Take?
It depends on the type of crossbite, its severity, the patient's age, and the treatment chosen. Expander-based treatment usually involves a few weeks of gradual widening followed by several months of holding time so the new jaw width stabilizes.
Braces or aligner treatment is generally measured in months, and comprehensive cases can run up to about two years.
Consistency matters as much as the appliance. Aligners only work while you wear them, and keeping scheduled adjustment visits keeps everything on track.
We map out a personalized timeline at the first visit. If budget is part of your planning, our guide to what affects orthodontic treatment pricing is a helpful companion read.
Why Families Choose Ortho South for Crossbite Repair
- More than 25 years of bite correction experience. Dr. Boggan founded Ortho South in 1999, and our doctors have evaluated and treated crossbites in Shelby County ever since.
- Early evaluations through our 747 Club. Our age-7 first looks follow AAO screening guidance, so we catch developing crossbites while they're easiest to treat.
- Every treatment option under one roof. Expanders, metal and ceramic braces, Invisalign, and our own Shift Aligners mean the plan fits the bite, not the other way around.
- More than 750 five-star reviews. Patients throughout Pelham, Calera, and the surrounding communities have shared more than 750 five-star Google reviews about their experience with our team. We’re honored by their trust and proud to create confident smiles for families across Central Alabama.
- Two convenient locations and free consultations. With offices in Pelham and Calera, a first visit is easy to fit between school, practice, and work schedules, and it costs nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crossbite Repair
Can a crossbite be fixed without braces?
Often, yes. Many crossbites can be corrected with clear aligners or, in growing children, a palatal expander, without traditional braces. It depends on the type of crossbite: tooth-position problems respond well to aligners, while jaw-width problems usually need expansion. An orthodontist can tell you which category a bite falls into after one exam.
What is the best age to fix a crossbite?
The simplest window is childhood, while the upper jaw is still growing. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic screening at age 7, and crossbites found then can often be treated with shorter, simpler appliances. That said, there is no cutoff. Healthy teens and adults can be treated successfully too.
Will my child's crossbite go away on its own?
No. Crossbites do not self-correct as children grow. More often, the jaw shifts to one side to make the teeth fit together, and growth can follow that crooked pattern over time. That is why we recommend an early evaluation rather than waiting to see whether the bite improves.
Can Invisalign or clear aligners fix a crossbite?
Yes, in many cases. Clear aligners like Invisalign work well for mild to moderate crossbites caused by tooth position. Crossbites caused by a narrow upper jaw may need a palatal expander first, especially in growing patients. At Ortho South, we treat crossbites with both Invisalign and our own Shift Aligners.
How long does crossbite treatment take?
It varies with the type of crossbite, its severity, the patient's age, and how consistently trays or appliances are worn. Expansion often happens over a few weeks, followed by months of stabilization, while braces or aligner treatment generally runs from several months to about two years.
Sources
- American Association of Orthodontists. Understanding Crossbites: What Are They and How Are They Treated? https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/what-is-a-crossbite/
- American Association of Orthodontists. Early Orthodontic Care at Age 7: A Path to Cost-Effective Treatment. https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/early-orthodontic-care-may-help-you-avoid-costly-treatments/
- American Association of Orthodontists. What Is a Palatal Expander? https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/palatal-expander/
This article provides general educational information about crossbites and orthodontic treatment. Every bite is different, and individual orthodontic needs vary. A diagnosis or a personal treatment recommendation requires an in-person examination by a qualified orthodontist.
