Crossbite Correction in Encinitas, CA

A crossbite is correctable — especially if caught early.

A crossbite is when one or more upper teeth bite inside or behind the lower teeth — the opposite of a normal bite. It's more common than most people realize, and it's highly correctable. Dr. Liatti uses 3D CBCT imaging to find what's driving it, then recommends the approach that produces the best long-term result.

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Understanding Crossbites

Types of Crossbites

Posterior crossbite where the upper back teeth bite inside the lower teeth

Posterior Crossbite (Back Teeth)

A posterior crossbite affects the back teeth, where the upper teeth bite inside the lower ones instead of outside them. It usually comes down to a narrow upper jaw: the top arch didn't grow as wide as the bottom one. It's the most common type, and the most straightforward to fix. In children, rapid palatal expansion gently widens the upper jaw and corrects it cleanly.

Anterior crossbite with gum recession on a lower front tooth

Anterior Crossbite (Front Teeth)

An anterior crossbite affects the front teeth, where one or more upper front teeth sit behind the lower ones. This usually isn't a width problem — more often it's about how the jaws line up or how the teeth erupted. Sometimes it's corrected with Invisalign or braces; in growing patients, guiding the jaws helps, while significant adult cases may involve surgical orthodontics.

Unilateral posterior crossbite affecting one side of the bite

Unilateral vs. Bilateral (One Side or Both)

A unilateral crossbite affects just one side of the mouth; a bilateral crossbite affects both. One-sided crossbites are important because they can hold the jaw off-center, causing it to grow toward one side over time. They can also lead to uneven wear. Crossbites on both sides are often easier to correct, since they usually come down to a simple width difference.

Whatever the type, the common thread is the same: the upper and lower teeth don't meet the way they should. Left unaddressed, it can cause gum recession, wear the teeth unevenly, and affect how the jaw grows and functions over time.

See a tooth biting on the wrong side? A free evaluation shows whether it's a tooth or jaw problem — and what your options are.

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Kids & Crossbite

Crossbite Correction in Children

Childhood is the ideal time to correct a crossbite, because Dr. Liatti can work with the jaws while they're still developing, which helps prevent further jaw-growth problems or asymmetry.

Posterior crossbite

For a posterior crossbite, rapid palatal expansion is the gold standard: an expander bonded to the upper back teeth applies steady pressure to widen the palate, which separates along its natural growth seam.

Anterior crossbite

For an anterior crossbite with a jaw-growth component, a combination of expansion and reverse-pull headgear (a facemask) can help guide growth, and sometimes correcting the dental crossbite alone is enough to help the jaws grow in the right pattern.

Note

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation by age 7 — early correction is usually simpler and often avoids surgery later.

Teens & Adults

Crossbite Correction in Teens and Adults

Posterior crossbite

Posterior crossbite can still be corrected in teens and adults. Most teens can still be treated with a traditional rapid palatal expander, while older teens and adults usually benefit from MARPE (miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion), which widens the upper jaw even after the growth seam has become too resistant for a traditional expander. From there, treatment transitions to braces or Invisalign to align the teeth and finalize the bite.

Anterior crossbite

Anterior crossbite in older teens and adults depends on what's behind it. When it's mainly tooth position, braces or Invisalign can move the teeth into a proper bite. When it comes from a difference in how the jaws are sized or positioned, it can sometimes still be corrected with orthodontics alone; in more significant cases, surgical orthodontics is needed to bring the jaws into alignment.

If you're an adult with a crossbite, don't assume it's unfixable — a 3D evaluation shows what's driving it and which approach works best.

How We Diagnose

How Dr. Liatti Evaluates a Crossbite

A clinical exam tells part of the story — Dr. Liatti looks at which teeth are in crossbite, whether it's unilateral or bilateral, and how the jaws relate. But the real clarity comes from a CBCT 3D scan.

The 3D image shows the width of both jaws, the position of the dental midlines, whether the crossbite is purely dental or has a skeletal component, and whether there's any jaw asymmetry. This determines whether braces, Invisalign, or expansion alone will correct it, or whether a combination is needed. In children, Dr. Liatti also evaluates remaining growth potential.

The comprehensive evaluation is free — and it gives you the complete picture of what's happening and why.

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What our patients say.

I recently finished my orthodontic treatment at Encinitas Orthodontics. I had an underbite but now it’s perfect. Dr. Liatti’s treatment method to move my teeth considered my overall health instead of just how the teeth looks, unlike other orthodontists who…
Huy V. · Google
We have been to several other orthodontists in the north county area for braces for my other two kids, but I switched to Dr. Liatti at Encinitas Orthodontics for my third child’s braces and he is unquestionably the best in the business!
Beth T. · Google
We love Dr. Liatti and his amazing staff! Our older son was treated for airway restriction/sleep apnea, and our younger son for a crossbite that would have permanently damaged his adult teeth.
Britta · Google
We consulted with multiple orthodontists before and after meeting Dr. Liatti. We live quite far (1 hour drive) but it was 100% the right decision. Each of our children have received personalized care and treatment plans.
Bennett B. · Google
Dr. Liatti and his staff came in and saved me from a previously horrible Invisalign experience. Within two weeks, I had a new treatment plan (done the correct way with the latest technologies from a board certified orthodontist) and a new caring, funny…
Demetra B. · Google
I just finished my journey with braces through Encinitas Orthodontics/Dr. Liatti. He and his team are friendly and very knowledgeable.
Pam H. · Google
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Location

Serving North County San Diego & beyond.

Encinitas Orthodontics is located at 317 N El Camino Real, Suite 203, in Encinitas, CA — serving families from across North County San Diego and the greater San Diego area who are looking for crossbite correction.

Patients visit from Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, and Oceanside.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Crossbite

What is a crossbite?
A crossbite is a bite where one or more upper teeth land inside or behind the lower teeth, instead of slightly outside them the way they should. It can affect the back teeth (posterior crossbite), the front teeth (anterior crossbite), one side, or both. Less commonly, the upper teeth sit entirely outside the lowers, called a buccal crossbite. A crossbite can involve a single tooth or several, and Dr. Liatti uses 3D imaging to see exactly which teeth and which jaws are involved.
What causes a crossbite?
Posterior crossbites usually trace back to a narrow upper jaw that didn’t grow as wide as the lower one. Anterior crossbites are more often about how the jaws line up, with the lower jaw sitting slightly forward or the upper jaw slightly back. Crossbites can also come from tooth position alone or from early habits like prolonged thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. Dr. Liatti uses 3D CBCT imaging to tell whether a crossbite is dental, skeletal, or a mix, which is what determines the right treatment.
How do you fix a crossbite?
It depends on the cause. Many posterior crossbites are corrected by widening the upper jaw with palatal expansion, often without braces at all. Anterior or single-tooth crossbites are usually corrected with braces or aligners that reposition the specific teeth. Skeletal crossbites driven by jaw position may need expansion first, then braces to finish, and the most severe adult cases can involve surgical orthodontics. A 3D evaluation shows exactly what’s driving yours, so the plan fits the actual problem.
Can Invisalign fix a crossbite?
Sometimes, yes. Invisalign and other clear aligners can correct many mild dental crossbites, especially a single tooth or a front-tooth crossbite, by moving the teeth into a proper bite. What aligners can’t do on their own is widen the jaw. When a crossbite comes from a narrow upper jaw, that width has to be created first with expansion, and aligners can finish the alignment afterward. Dr. Liatti will tell you honestly whether Invisalign alone can correct your crossbite or whether it’s part of a larger plan.
Can a crossbite be corrected in children, and what age is best?
Yes, and childhood is often the ideal time. While a child is still growing, the upper jaw can be widened with a palatal expander to correct a posterior crossbite cleanly, because the growth seam in the palate is still flexible. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first check by age 7, which is when crossbites are easiest to catch. Treating early often keeps the problem from worsening and makes any later treatment simpler.
Can a crossbite be fixed in adults?
Yes. A crossbite can be corrected at any age, though in adults it takes more than growth alone. Once the palate has become resistant to expansion, widening the upper jaw uses an appliance like MARPE rather than a child’s expander. From there, braces or aligners finish the bite. Surgery is reserved for the most significant skeletal cases, not routine crossbites. A 3D scan shows what’s realistic for your situation before anything begins.
What happens if a crossbite is left untreated?
Left alone, a crossbite tends to wear unevenly on the teeth that take the extra force, and it can strain the jaw joint over time, which is one way a crossbite contributes to TMJ symptoms. A one-sided crossbite can hold the lower jaw off-center, so it grows or functions asymmetrically, something that can affect the look of the face in a growing child. It can also contribute to gum recession on the affected teeth. Correcting it protects both the teeth and the jaw.
Is palatal expansion safe for children?
Yes. Palatal expanders are safe and well-researched. They use steady, controlled pressure on the upper jaw, which separates along a natural midline during childhood and early adolescence. Once the expander is removed, the wider jaw is stable. Parents sometimes ask whether expansion affects the nose or sinuses. It does — in a helpful way: widening the upper jaw also widens the floor of the nose, which can support easier nasal breathing. Dr. Liatti has expanded many children safely and predictably.
The Short Version

Crossbite is fixable — and early treatment produces the best results.