Jaw shift
A functional shift to one side can be clinically important even when the crossbite involves only a few teeth.
01 · Wonder · Kamloops
Crossbite and open bite: when teeth do not meet normally
A crossbite means selected upper teeth bite inside lower teeth. An open bite means teeth do not contact where they normally should. Both descriptions cover several different causes.
The plain answer
The first priority is identifying whether the problem involves teeth, jaw position, growth, habit or a functional shift.
Posterior crossbites may be associated with a narrow upper arch or a jaw shift. Anterior crossbites can involve tooth position or an underbite relationship. Open bites can be influenced by eruption, tongue posture, oral habits, skeletal pattern or combinations of factors.
Observe whether the jaw shifts when closing, whether only one side contacts, whether a habit persists and whether the bite is changing. Bring those observations to an assessment rather than attempting exercises or appliances without diagnosis.
What matters
Three things to evaluate before acting
Habit and posture
Thumb habits or tongue posture may contribute to an open bite, but causation and treatment require individual assessment.
Timing
Some transverse and growth-related concerns are evaluated earlier because remaining growth can affect available options.
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Where this fits
Recognize signs that justify an orthodontic assessment.
The Wonder stage is about noticing, not diagnosing. Crowding, spacing, bite changes, tooth wear, difficulty cleaning, or relapse after past treatment can justify an assessment. In children, timing matters because tooth eruption and jaw growth change what can be observed and when treatment may be useful.
Aligners may be part of treatment for selected cases, but they do not replace evaluation of growth, airway symptoms, habits or skeletal relationships. Medical diagnoses remain outside a dental website's scope.
Questions people ask
Useful answers before a consultation
Can Invisalign correct a crossbite?
In selected cases, yes. The amount of expansion, tooth movement, jaw relationship and need for auxiliaries determine suitability.
Will an open bite close by itself?
Some habit-related changes may improve when the habit stops, while other open bites persist. A clinician should evaluate the cause and growth stage.
Is mouth breathing the cause?
Breathing symptoms can have several causes. Dentists can identify risk indicators and refer, but physicians or appropriate medical specialists diagnose medical airway conditions.
References
Sources for this topic
External sources can change. Verify current regulatory, professional, manufacturer and local information at the linked publisher; these sources do not replace an individualized examination.
Presented by Blue Bird Dental, Hillside Dental and River City Dental. Last reviewed September 5, 2026. This content is educational and is not a substitute for an individualized examination, diagnosis or treatment recommendation. For pain, swelling, trauma, breathing difficulty, uncontrolled bleeding, infection or an appliance causing injury, contact a local dentist, treating provider or emergency service directly.