Invisalign for a crossbite: anterior and posterior crossbites explained

Invisalign can fix many crossbites. An anterior crossbite, where upper front teeth bite behind the lowers, is often a good aligner case, and a dental posterior crossbite can be corrected by uprighting the back teeth. At Toothi in Edgware, crossbite treatment starts at £1,495 for Go Express; a narrow upper jaw is referred on. When the upper jaw itself is narrow, aligners can’t widen the bone. That case may need an orthodontist and expansion, so we refer it on.

So the real question isn’t “can Invisalign fix a crossbite?” but “which kind do I have?” Your free iTero scan answers that in a few minutes and shows the predicted result before anything is made. For how we treat Invisalign generally, see Invisalign in Edgware.

A crossbite is anywhere an upper tooth bites inside its lower partner. Yes, it can matter over time. In a normal bite the upper teeth sit slightly outside the lower teeth all the way round, like a lid on a box. It’s rarely painful, which is why plenty of people live with one for years, but it can cause problems quietly.

• ✓  Uneven wear. Teeth that meet the wrong way round grind on edges never meant to take load, so they can chip and flatten faster.
• ✓  Gum recession. A lower front tooth pushed outwards by an upper tooth biting behind it is often the one whose gum has crept down.
• ✓  A jaw shift. With a one-sided posterior crossbite, the lower jaw often slides sideways to close comfortably, loading one jaw joint more than the other.
• ✓  Facial asymmetry. A long-standing one-sided crossbite with a jaw shift can make the chin look off-centre.

Anterior crossbite. One or more upper front teeth sit behind the lowers. Where it affects most of the front teeth it shades into an underbite, which has its own page: Invisalign for an underbite. Where it’s one or two teeth, typically an upper lateral incisor that came through behind the arch, it’s usually dental and a very good aligner case.

Posterior crossbite. The upper premolars or molars bite inside the lowers on one side or both. A one-sided posterior crossbite is often dental, caused by the upper back teeth tilting inwards, and can be corrected by uprighting them. A two-sided posterior crossbite more often means the upper jaw itself is narrow. In adults the palate has fused, so the bone can’t be widened with a simple appliance, and that’s the case that most often needs an orthodontist.

Single-tooth crossbite. One tooth, front or back, locked the wrong side of its partner while everything else is in place. Front single-tooth crossbites are often among the shorter Invisalign cases.

By tipping the upper tooth outwards, past the edge of the lower tooth, and often tipping the lower tooth slightly inwards to meet it. For back teeth the plan may add torque, so the crown moves outwards without the root following the wrong way. The mechanics are explained in how Invisalign works.

A few things help. Small tooth-coloured attachments give the aligner something to push against. Bite ramps are small raised pads inside the aligner behind the upper front teeth. They keep the back teeth slightly apart while the crossbite tooth jumps across, because a tooth locked under its partner can’t move until the bite is unlocked. Occasionally small elastics are worn between the aligners to help the bite settle, and a little IPR may make space for a front tooth to come forward. A single-tooth anterior crossbite with otherwise tidy teeth is often an Invisalign Go Express or Go case.

We treat anterior, single-tooth and dental posterior crossbites within the Invisalign Go range; narrow-jaw and skeletal cases are referred on. The Go range is for mild to moderate movement of the front teeth and premolars, which covers crossbites where the back teeth need uprighting rather than the jaw widening. Our principal dentist, who has a special interest in Invisalign, plans every case on the iTero scan before any aligner is made.

What we refer on to an orthodontist: a two-sided posterior crossbite caused by a narrow upper jaw, a crossbite that’s part of a wider skeletal problem, a case needing extractions, and anything needing more movement than the Go Plus scope allows. We’d rather tell you that at a free consultation than attempt a case aligners can’t finish. See also Invisalign from a dentist or an orthodontist.

Typically around 3 to 9 months, depending on the type. A single front tooth in crossbite with the rest of the arch in good order is often an Invisalign Go Express case, typically around 3 months. An anterior crossbite involving two or three teeth, or combined with crowding, is usually Invisalign Go, typically around 6 months. A dental posterior crossbite, where back teeth are uprighted, tends to be Invisalign Go Plus, typically around 9 months. Those are typical ranges, not promises. Your own timeline is on the ClinCheck plan, and it depends on 22-hour-a-day wear. See how long Invisalign takes; refinement aligners are included if needed.

£1,495, £2,495 or £2,995 depending on the package, fixed and all-inclusive.

Included in every Invisalign package: iTero 3D scan and ClinCheck · all review appointments · refinement aligners if needed · removable and fixed retainers · Airflow hygiene clean · Boutique teeth whitening. There are no add-ons. The consultation and scan are free. Full detail on our fees page, in our Invisalign cost guide and on the packages page. 0% finance over up to 10 months is available on treatment over £250.

Every Invisalign patient has a check-up and X-rays first, included; any fillings or gum treatment needed are done beforehand and charged separately. Fitting is a separate visit, typically 2 to 3 weeks after the plan is agreed, with reviews generally every 8 weeks. We’re open seven days; see travelling to Toothi.

With retainers. A tooth that has jumped across the bite is held in place partly by the bite itself, but the gum fibres remember where it used to be, so retainers aren’t optional. Every Toothi package includes a fixed wire retainer behind the front teeth and clear removable retainers, which hold the back teeth and the bite as a whole. Wear the removable retainers as instructed at your fitting at first, then every night. Replacements are £150 for one arch or £250 for both, and a replacement fixed wire is £250. See our Invisalign retainers guide.