Embracing a New Era
Crossbite is a general term for the misalignment of the dental arches. Sometimes a tooth is closer to the cheek than its corresponding tooth in the upper or lower dental arch. Sometimes a tooth is closer to the tongue than its corresponding tooth. Dentists use the terms buccal or lingual position to describe this type of malocclusion. If the problem occurs in the back of the mouth, it is called posterior crossbite. When it occurs in the front part of the mouth, it is identified as anterior crossbite. Crossbite usually occurs when a tooth bud emerges in the wrong direction or lacks enough space to grow properly. A single tooth or multiple teeth may be involved in this difficulty.
Orthodontic continuing education will help you detect this condition in your patient’s lower and upper teeth. Because crossbite and misalignment can lead to health concerns, the dental professional who can properly diagnose, address and solve the problem of crossbite can prevent these health issues. For example, difficulty chewing food or pain in the jaw joint (TMJ) are possible results of untreated crossbites. Gerety Orthodontic Seminars can assist you in mastering different correction and treatment options that are available.
We would like to guide you on some of them but first, let’s explain crossbites properly.
When you enroll in our Gerety Orthodontic Seminars for your continuing dental education, you will learn about when a crossbite occurs. You will learn to identify the issue from the misalignment of the lower and upper set of teeth. This condition could also be a hereditary problem, and it may occur later in the patient’s life. In other words, if one’s parents suffered from crossbite of some sort, the condition may be passed down to children. If it does occur, the new teeth will not be able to grow in properly, and this will result in other issues like misalignment of the teeth.
Always know that the best time to tackle such conditions is when the patient is just a teenager or a child. However, this doesn’t mean adults have no options. Treatment of this condition means the use of orthodontic appliances for the adjustment of the palate, jaw, or teeth. The usual options generally include the following:
This device is for adult use when sleeping at night. It works by gradually widening the upper palate. A removable device such as this is appropriate for patients with a need for minimal expansion.
Orthodontic treatment in the form of braces is an excellent treatment option for patients of all ages. Braces work by straightening the teeth, slowly moving the upper and lower teeth to get them back to their correct positions.
This is a device that works on the palate as well as the upper teeth. It works by widening the upper palate of the mouth gradually, by the consistent and gradual turning of a key in the appliance. The use of the maxillary expander is quite effective in children since their palates are in a growing phase and more easily expanded than in the palate of an adult.
If your patients experience a crossbite, the common complaints they will have is difficulty when they chew their meals. However, there are many treatment options for this and when you enroll in continuing education; you will learn more about the best treatment options.
Why choose Gerety Orthodontic Seminars for your continuing education? We know your goals are to enhance your skills and serve your patients to the best of your ability. We are committed to serving the individual general practitioner, and we will design the orthodontic education package that fits your needs. Our satisfied students provide the best evidence that Gerety Orthodontics is the favorite choice for dentists. Please review the testimonials and virtual tour on our website: Gerety Orthodontic Seminars www.orthodonticteaching.com For more details or information on our programs in Tulsa, please contact us today.