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Crossbites and Underbites and Overbites, Oh My!

Home » Blog » Crossbites and Underbites and Overbites, Oh My!

  • Charleston Orthodontics
  • December 8, 2017

Has your dentist or orthodontist ever said you have a crossbite, underbite or overbite? If so, did you wonder what they were talking about? Also known as malocclusions, these types of bites aren’t as scary as they sound and can be fixed with the proper treatment.

Crossbite

What it means: A crossbite is when an upper tooth fits behind a lower tooth or a lower tooth fits behind an upper tooth. The upper teeth are meant to overlap the lowers when you bite down. If just one or two adult teeth aren’t meeting up properly, it may because of the way they came in. Sometimes this happens when a baby tooth doesn’t fall out properly and the permanent tooth comes in around it. If your crossbite involves several teeth, you may be experiencing a narrow or small upper or lower jaw.

How it can be fixed: Crossbites caused by a single tooth or two can often be fixed by wearing braces or Invisalign, both of which will move the teeth to their proper places. Crossbites caused by a narrow jaw may require a palatal expander, which will gradually expand the width of the jaw and the teeth will follow within the jaw bone.

Underbite

What it means: An underbite occurs when your bottom teeth go in front of your top teeth when you bite down. An easy way to picture an underbite is to think of a bulldog, whose bottom teeth are in front of the top ones. While most underbite cases in people aren’t nearly as pronounced, it can still cause irregular tooth wear and cause a person to be self-conscious about their smile.

How it can be fixed: Underbites can be caused by a couple different factors that require different treatments. Mild underbites are often the result of the bottom teeth being tilted outward or the top teeth being tilted inward. This type of underbite may be treated with braces that move the tilted teeth back into place. Undergrowth of the upper jaw or overgrowth of the lower jaw also cause underbites and may require braces as well as a surgical procedure to one or both jaws.

Overbite

What it means: When you close your mouth, having your top teeth overlap your bottom teeth a certain amount is normal. However, if they overlap too much it results in an overbite. Overbites are the most common type of bite issue and are often caused by genetics—if you have an overbite, chances are one or both of your parents did too. Overbites also occur when young children use pacifiers for extended periods of time or suck their thumbs because these habits affect their jaws as they are forming.

How it can be fixed: If your teeth are crowded and causing an overbite, removing a few can give more space for your front teeth to move back in your upper jaw and not stick out over your bottom teeth as much. Rubber bands properly placed on braces or select appliances can also bring your upper jaw back in line with your lower jaw over time. Extreme cases, particularly in adults whose jaws are no longer growing, may be treated with surgery.

While many people get their bites fixed because they aren’t happy with the way their smiles look, these issues aren’t simply cosmetic. Misaligned teeth can cause unusual wear, chewing difficulties, and jaw pain if they are left untreated. While it is often easier to change a child’s bite because their jaws are still growing, there are many effective treatments for adults as well.

If you think you or your child has a crossbite, underbite, or overbite, set up a free exam at one of our offices by calling (843) 4-BRACES to find out for sure and to discuss treatment options.

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PATIENT REVIEWS

Our 5-Star Experience

There is nothing that warms our hearts more than hearing from patients who have had a great experience at our office. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

You Have the Best Smile | Dr. and Teen Patient
Charles L.
Outstanding Services on getting braces done for your kids or yourself. Dr. Patel and his staff are absolutely squared away and produce great results. Definitely Military Friendly for both active duty and retirees.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with Dr. Patel and our team. It's great to know that our commitment to providing excellent service resonates with our patients, especially those in the military community. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to deliver outstanding care!
lexus D.
10/10 service , clean environment and it smells great ! today i came from another dentist and my brackets were different from
the ones they use . long story short they were still able to tightened them for me and i would recommend this dentist
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and appreciated the clean environment. It's great to know we could assist you with your needs. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
tamekica M.
Went to this place about a week ago, and from the front door to the back, customer services was awesome!! Shot out to Mrs. Laurie she was really sweet and pleasant. 10/10.
Response from the owner:We're thrilled to hear that our team, especially Mrs. Laurie, made such a positive impression. Your feedback inspires us to continue providing exceptional service. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Paula R.
Love this place. Always great service, handsome orthodontist, always take you on time. Kind staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you consistently enjoy our service and appreciate the punctuality and kindness of our team. Your support means a lot to us!
Shamicka B.
I would absolutely recommend everyone to get serves at Charleston Orthodontist they always do a great job and good customer service , and very clean atmosphere they always have snacks, coffee, tea, and water bottles they most definitely make you feel comfortable and at home. The Orthodontist doctor is the best also love them all very respectful and professional staff. I have been a patient of there's for about three almost four years and never had a problem or disappointment in services. There the best.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you feel at home with us and appreciate the efforts of our team to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’re grateful to have you as part of our community for nearly four years. We look forward to continuing to serve you with the best care possible!
Andee C.
The office is beautiful and so well kept. All of the staff is so nice and welcoming. I’m very happy with my decision to visit.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit and found our office inviting. Our team takes great pride in creating a welcoming environment, and it's fantastic to know that it made a positive impression on you. We look forward to seeing you again!
Mary H.
So impressed with this office. So welcoming. We met everyone and immediately knew this was our choice for braces
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you felt welcomed and confident in your choice for braces. Our team is dedicated to creating a positive experience for all our patients, and it’s great to know we’re on the right track. We look forward to supporting you on your journey!
jeannette B.
I got my braces through them and I love my results. The employees and Doctor are great always make me feel comfortable when am there. If any problems they immediately have you come in to address it. Have referred plenty of people to them
Aliaah J.
My experience here was AWESOME ‼️ Staff is really nice and braces are definitely affordable !
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear that you had a great experience! We loved having you!
Lashawna B.
It was a great experience from the moment we walked in and interacted with the front desk to the staff that assisted us. And most importantly, the doctor was very professional and thorough in explaining his recommendations as well as why he recommended what he did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that our team made a positive impression from the start and that the doctor provided clear and thorough explanations. Your feedback inspires us to continue delivering exceptional care. We appreciate your support!
Sheena N.
Loved my entire experience all the staff and provider was very kind, informative and professional! Results were good improvement .....would recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing! We're so happy to hear that our team made a positive impact and that you saw good results. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
Tori S.
10/10 would absolutely come here again if I ever needed to! Everyone is so sweet & professional. Any question, concern or problem I had throughout my treatment were addressed promptly & efficiently. I don’t think I could have chose a better company for my treatment! Amazing experience to say the least
Response from the owner:We have loved having you as a patient Tori! Although your braces journey is coming to an end soon, we hope to see your smiling face again soon. We are so grateful for your confidence in our office!
Chelsea B.
Awesome experience at Charleston Ortho. Ms. Laurie(Llama) and Dr. Patel were amazing. I had to bring my son with me and he stole the show. I’m on day to of my braces and barely any pain. 10/10
Response from the owner:We loved having you both! Bring him anytime :) We are also so happy to hear that you are acclimating to the braces so well! See you soon!
Angelica C.
I love coming to this place because they make me feel comfortable and the people that work at the orthodontics are really nice there. I love coming there
Response from the owner:We love having you here Angelica! Knowing that our patients feel comfortable and enjoy coming to their appointments makes our day!
Fire S.
I recommend this to anyone who need orthodontist care. They were very thorough. The process was quick. No long wait, friendly and respectful Team.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review! We're really glad to hear you had a smooth and positive experience with us. It means a lot that you’d recommend us—and we’ll keep working hard to make sure every visit feels just as friendly and easy. Hope to see you again soon!
Benita N.
Halfway through my orthodontic journey. The staff and specialists at Charleston Orthodontics are great. They keep me informed of my progress and are always available to answer any questions i have regarding my treatment. If you’re looking for an orthodontic practice, give Charleston Orthodontics a call. You’ll be glad you did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for choosing our office Benita!
william R.
Super friendly and efficient! I had an emergency and needed a replacement retainer! The entire staff from start to finish were professional and compassionate!
Response from the owner:We are so happy that we were able to help out, William!
Lee L.
Can’t say it enough I LOVEEEEEEE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE FROM THE ORTHODONTIST DR. Patel & all of the specialist including front desk❤️❤️❤️
Response from the owner:We LOVEEEE everything about having you as a patient!! Thank you so much for the review!! ❤️
Jennifer W.
Wonderful experience! Waiting time for anything, scheduling and cost, can’t beat it anywhere else. Staff is always pleasant and Dr. Patel is brilliant! I have enjoyed the service and will have my family do service in the future. My treatment came out beautifully!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review! Dr. Patel and our entire team truly appreciate your trust and are so happy you're pleased with your results. We’re honored to care for you and your family, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future!
Derron D.
I’ve been a patient at Charleston Orthodontics for the past three years while receiving braces, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. The staff is incredibly friendly and always made me feel welcome at every visit. The office is spotless and well-maintained, which made each appointment comfortable. I also really appreciated that the payment plans were reasonable and manageable. Overall, I highly recommend Charleston Orthodontic to anyone looking for quality orthodontic care!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for being a patient with us for the past three years! We’re happy to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with our team and that our office, care, and payment plans met your expectations. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we’re so happy we could be a part of your orthodontic journey. We look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
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