Children's anterior crossbite (underbite), things parents must know

Oral health is a vital part of a child's growth. Children's anterior crossbite, commonly known as "underbite", not only affects the child's facial appearance, but may also have adverse effects on their chewing function, pronunciation, and psychological development. As a parent, it is crucial to understand the relevant knowledge of children's anterior crossbite in order to detect problems in time and take correct treatment measures.

1. What is anterior crossbite in children?

Anterior crossbite refers to the situation where the lower front teeth bite the labial side of the upper front teeth during the central occlusion, thus forming an abnormal occlusion relationship. This situation is more common in children, especially during the period of deciduous teeth and replacement teeth. From the appearance point of view, anterior crossbite will make the child's chin appear protruding and the middle part of the face concave, seriously affecting the beauty of the face. At the same time, due to the abnormal occlusion relationship, the child may have difficulty chewing food, affecting the digestion and absorption of food. In addition, anterior crossbite may also affect the child's pronunciation, resulting in unclear pronunciation.

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2. What are the causes of anterior crossbite in children?

1. Bad oral habits

The thumb sucking habit is common among young children. Long-term thumb sucking can cause the upper front teeth to tilt labially and the lower front teeth to tilt lingually, disrupting the normal occlusal relationship. The upper lip biting habit can also cause the mandible to protrude forward, which can easily lead to anterior crossbite over time. In addition, the mandibular protrusion habit should not be underestimated. If children often protrude their mandibles inadvertently, it will gradually change the growth direction of the jaw and the position of the teeth, leading to anterior crossbite.

2. Local disorders during the deciduous dentition period

Caries of deciduous teeth is one of the common local disorders. If caries occurs in deciduous teeth and is not treated in time, it will cause tooth pain. To avoid pain, children may chew on the other side, causing the mandible to shift to the carious side, thus forming an anterior crossbite. At the same time, early loss of deciduous teeth will also affect the occlusal relationship. The adjacent teeth will tilt toward the gap between the missing teeth, and the opposing teeth will elongate, which will disrupt the normal tooth arrangement and occlusion, thereby increasing the risk of anterior crossbite. In addition, when the deciduous canines are not worn enough, they will be higher than the plane of the dental arch, causing interference during occlusion, causing the mandible to shift forward and causing anterior crossbite.

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3. Systemic diseases

Certain systemic diseases may also cause crossbite in children. For example, rickets can affect the normal development of bones, causing abnormal jaw growth and increasing the possibility of crossbite. Endocrine disorders may interfere with the growth rate and direction of teeth and jaws, causing oral occlusion problems. Although systemic diseases rarely cause crossbite, once they occur, they often require comprehensive treatment. Therefore, for children with systemic diseases, parents should pay close attention to their oral health and take their children for regular oral examinations.

3. How to detect anterior crossbite in children?

1. Observe facial appearance

Parents can carefully observe their children's facial appearance to see if there are any abnormalities such as protruding chin or sunken mid-face. If the child's face is found to be different from that of his peers, it is likely that the front teeth are crossbite, and the child should be taken to the dental hospital for examination in time.

2. Observe the occlusion of teeth

Parents can observe their children's teeth bite when they are chewing food or talking. If they find that the lower front teeth bite on the lip side of the upper front teeth, instead of the normal upper front teeth bite on the outside of the lower front teeth, or there is a problem of uneven teeth arrangement, they should take their children to the dental hospital for examination in time.

3. Regular oral examination

Parents should take their children to the dental hospital for professional examinations regularly, and it is generally recommended to do so every six months. Oral doctors can accurately determine whether a child has anterior crossbite through professional examination methods, such as oral endoscopes and dental mold analysis. Even if parents do not find obvious abnormalities, professional examinations can detect potential problems early and provide a basis for timely treatment.

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4. What are the treatments for anterior crossbite in children?

1. Treatment of anterior crossbite during the primary dentition period

If the anterior crossbite is caused by insufficient wear of the deciduous canines, the occlusal interference can be eliminated by grinding the deciduous canines to return the mandible to its normal position. The specific steps are for a professional dentist to use dental instruments to properly grind the deciduous canines and adjust the height of the teeth to improve the occlusal relationship. This method is relatively simple to operate and can quickly correct crossbites caused by local dental problems.

For most children with anterior crossbite, maxillary mandibular pad removable appliances are usually used for treatment. The specific method is to install a jaw pad on the child's maxillary teeth, open the front teeth to bite, and then use devices such as springs or rubber rings to move the upper front teeth labially and the lower front teeth lingually, thereby correcting the anterior crossbite. This appliance can be adjusted according to the child's specific situation and has strong adaptability.

For some children with anterior crossbite, the bite-pry method can be used for treatment. The specific method is to let the child place a thin wooden board or bamboo piece between the upper and lower front teeth of the crossbite, and then bite down hard. The bite force moves the upper front teeth labially and the lower front teeth lingually, thereby correcting the anterior crossbite. This method requires the cooperation of the child, and parents should supervise and guide the child to ensure that the bite-pry tool is used correctly.

2. Treatment of anterior crossbite during the transitional period

For anterior crossbite caused by insufficient maxillary development, a maxillary anterior traction device can be used for treatment. The principle is to install a traction device on the child's maxilla to pull the maxilla forward and promote the development of the maxilla, thereby correcting the anterior crossbite. This method requires a certain amount of treatment time, and parents should encourage their children to insist on wearing the traction device to achieve good treatment results.

For children with functional anterior crossbite, functional orthodontic appliances can be used for treatment. They adjust the child's oral muscle function to return the mandible to its normal position, thereby correcting the anterior crossbite. Functional orthodontic appliances require children to use them correctly under the guidance of a doctor and undergo regular review so that they can be adjusted according to the progress of treatment.

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3. Treatment of anterior crossbite in the permanent dentition period

The treatment of anterior crossbite in the permanent dentition period is generally carried out with fixed orthodontic appliances, which is to apply force to the teeth by attaching brackets to the teeth and then using devices such as archwires to move the teeth to their normal position, thereby correcting the anterior crossbite. If the patient's anterior crossbite is too severe, orthognathic surgery may also be required.

5. How to prevent children’s anterior crossbite?

1. Correcting bad oral habits

Parents should pay attention to their children's oral habits and promptly correct bad habits such as sucking fingers, biting upper lips, and protruding mandibles. They can help children get rid of bad habits by diverting their attention and giving appropriate rewards.

2. Pay attention to feeding methods

During the infant period, parents should adopt the correct feeding method and avoid letting the child lie on his back to feed. When feeding, the child should be held in the arms with the child's head slightly higher, and the bottle should be at a 45-degree angle to the child's lips to prevent the child's lower jaw from protruding too far forward.

3. Preventing caries of deciduous teeth

Parents should pay attention to their children's oral hygiene and clean their children's mouths with gauze or finger toothbrushes every morning and evening. When the child's first deciduous tooth grows, they should be taken to a dental hospital for examination in time, and fluoride and pit and fissure sealants should be performed regularly to prevent deciduous tooth caries.

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4. Timely treatment of deciduous tooth diseases

If a child's deciduous teeth have already suffered from caries, premature loss or other diseases, parents should take the child to a dental hospital for treatment in time to avoid affecting the child's bite relationship and jaw development.

In summary, crossbite in children is a relatively common oral problem. Parents should fully understand the relevant knowledge, discover the problem in time and take correct treatment measures. At the same time, attention should be paid to preventing the occurrence of crossbite in front teeth, so as to create good conditions for children's oral health and physical development.