This type of malocclusion has two main categories: anterior and posterior crossbites. Commonly referred to as an underbite, an anterior crossbite occurs when the upper teeth overlap the lower front teeth when closed together. This condition can affect one or more teeth, resulting in an abnormal crossbite facial shape. A posterior crossbite develops at the back of the mouth, where the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth. According to Invisalign, with this crossbite, your upper back teeth bite inside against the lower back teeth on both sides of your mouth.
There are six other potential types of crossbite you may be experiencing: scissor, single tooth, dental, skeletal, lingual, or buccal. A scissor crossbite occurs when your upper teeth tilt inward and the lower teeth tilt outward. You will have a single-tooth crossbite if an adult tooth does not emerge. When misaligned bites result in additional issues with your teeth, it’s classified as a dental crossbite. Skeletal crossbites happen when there is a skeletal discrepancy between the upper and lower jaws, which may be influenced by genetics or growth factors. A lingual crossbite is a posterior crossbite where the tips of your upper teeth point more toward your cheek than your lower jaw. Finally, a buccal crossbite occurs when the tips of your teeth point toward your tongue rather than the corresponding teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
