Can An Orthodontist Help With Crossbite Problems?

Whites Dental Waterloo

Example Icon 0208 616 0590

Example Icon 172 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8ER

Whites Dental Marble Arch (W2)

Example Icon 0203 576 2325

Example Icon 52B Kendal St, St George's Fields, London W2 2BP


A crossbite is the kind of problem patients often know is not quite right, even if they are not sure what it is called.

When some upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth rather than outside them, the bite can feel uneven, look asymmetrical, or simply seem off in a way that is hard to explain. That is where orthodontic assessment matters, because a crossbite is not just about appearance. It is a bite relationship issue, and in many cases it is something an orthodontist can help improve.

An orthodontist looks at how the upper and lower teeth meet, whether the crossbite affects only a few teeth or a wider part of the bite, and what treatment may help create a more balanced result.

In this guide, we explain what a crossbite is, whether an orthodontist can help with crossbite problems, and what treatment may involve.

Quick Answer: Yes, an orthodontist can often help with crossbite problems. Orthodontists assess how the upper and lower teeth meet, identify where the bite is sitting the wrong way round, and plan treatment to improve the overall bite relationship. If you are considering orthodontist care, crossbite correction is one of the common bite issues that may be addressed during treatment planning.

Ask A Question

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • An orthodontist can often help improve crossbite problems
  • A crossbite means some upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth rather than outside them
  • Crossbites can affect just a few teeth or a wider part of the bite
  • Crossbite correction is about bite balance as well as cosmetic improvement
  • Adults as well as younger patients may seek orthodontic treatment for a crossbite
  • The best treatment depends on how the crossbite presents and how complex it is


Orthodontic treatment in London at Whites Dental

🧭 Jump To:

What Is A Crossbite?
Can An Orthodontist Help With Crossbite Problems?
How Does An Orthodontist Assess A Crossbite?
What Treatments Might Help A Crossbite?
Why Crossbite Correction Matters
FAQs

What Is A Crossbite?

A crossbite is a bite problem where some upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth instead of outside them.

In a more balanced bite, the upper teeth usually sit slightly outside the lower teeth. With a crossbite, that relationship is reversed in one area. This may affect just one tooth, a group of teeth, or a wider part of the bite.

A crossbite may involve:

  • One or more upper teeth sitting inside the lower teeth
  • A bite that feels uneven from side to side
  • A front or side bite relationship that does not seem to fit properly
  • Other orthodontic issues such as crowding or asymmetry alongside it

Why A Crossbite Is More Than A Visual Issue

Patients often notice that something looks off before they understand the actual bite problem.

That is normal.

But a crossbite is not only about appearance. It is also about how the teeth meet and function together.

Orthodontists assess the bite relationship itself, which is why crossbite treatment is about more than simply making the smile look straighter.

Can An Orthodontist Help With Crossbite Problems?

Yes, often they can.

Crossbite correction is one of the bite issues orthodontists commonly assess and treat. The aim is to improve how the upper and lower teeth relate to each other, helping create a more balanced bite rather than just changing how the teeth look from the front.

An orthodontist may help by:

  • Improving the bite relationship where teeth sit the wrong way round
  • Correcting a localised crossbite involving a few teeth
  • Assessing whether the wider bite is also affected
  • Planning movement around the full orthodontic picture

If you are exploring orthodontist in London treatment, a crossbite is exactly the kind of bite issue that should be assessed properly rather than judged by appearance alone.

Why The Exact Type Of Crossbite Matters

Not every crossbite presents in the same way.

Some affect the front teeth. Others affect the side teeth. Some are relatively limited, while others form part of a broader bite pattern. That is why diagnosis matters so much before deciding what treatment may help.

Can A Crossbite Be Mild Or More Complex?

Yes.

Some crossbites are fairly localised and involve only a small part of the bite. Others are more significant and need more careful treatment planning.

A crossbite can vary in:

  • How many teeth are involved
  • Whether it affects the front teeth or side teeth
  • Whether the problem is isolated or part of a wider bite imbalance
  • How much correction may be needed

Why Complexity Changes The Orthodontic Plan

The orthodontist needs to understand not only whether a crossbite is present, but how it affects the overall bite.

That affects:

  • How treatment is planned
  • Which system may be suitable
  • How much control the case needs
  • What kind of result is realistic

What Does A Crossbite Feel Like To A Patient?

Patients do not always use the word crossbite when describing the problem.

They may say:

  • Some of my top teeth seem to sit inside the bottom ones
  • My bite feels uneven on one side
  • My teeth do not seem to meet properly
  • I have been told I might have a crossbite

This is one reason orthodontic diagnosis matters. Patients often know their bite feels wrong before they know the technical term for it.

This links naturally to broader bite-related topics such as Can An Orthodontist Help With Bite Problems? and How Orthodontists Diagnose Bite Problems.

How Does An Orthodontist Assess A Crossbite?

An orthodontist assesses a crossbite by looking at how the upper and lower teeth meet and identifying where the bite sits the wrong way round.

That assessment may include:

  • Clinical examination
  • Looking at the bite from different angles
  • Assessing how many teeth are involved
  • Checking for linked issues such as crowding, asymmetry, or other bite problems
  • Using scans, photographs, or X-rays where needed

A proper diagnosis looks at the full bite, not just one obvious area.

Why Diagnosis Comes Before Crossbite Treatment

Before recommending treatment, the orthodontist needs to understand:

  • Where the crossbite is
  • How significant it appears to be
  • Whether it is isolated or part of a wider orthodontic issue
  • How it affects treatment choice and planning

This sits alongside the wider consultation process explained in What Happens At An Orthodontist Consultation? and What Does An Orthodontist Check At Your First Appointment?.

What Treatments Might Help A Crossbite?

The exact treatment depends on the case, but orthodontists may use different systems to help improve a crossbite over time.

That may include:

  • Clear aligners
  • Metal braces
  • Ceramic braces
  • Damon braces

At Whites Dental, patients exploring orthodontic treatment London options can be assessed for the most suitable route depending on how the crossbite presents and what kind of correction is needed.

Treatment Type How It May Help Why Orthodontic Planning Matters
Clear aligners May help improve some crossbite cases depending on the movement needed Suitability depends on how the crossbite presents
Metal braces May provide strong control for more involved crossbite correction Used where more planned movement is needed
Ceramic braces May offer a more discreet fixed option in suitable cases Treatment choice still depends on bite needs first
Damon braces May be suitable in some crossbite correction cases The orthodontist chooses based on full diagnosis

Why One Crossbite Treatment Does Not Suit Everyone

Patients often want to know which system is best before the crossbite has been assessed properly.

The truth is that treatment depends on:

  • How the crossbite presents
  • How many teeth are involved
  • Whether the issue is isolated or part of a wider bite pattern
  • How much control is needed during treatment

Why Crossbite Correction Matters

Because a crossbite is usually about more than appearance.

Depending on the case, improving a crossbite may help with:

  • A more balanced bite relationship
  • Better overall alignment
  • A more harmonious relationship between the upper and lower teeth
  • A more stable end result after treatment

This is why orthodontists do not usually separate bite correction from straightening. In many cases, the two need to be planned together.

Why Cosmetic And Functional Concerns Often Overlap

A patient may first book because they dislike how the bite looks.

That is completely normal.

But once the crossbite is assessed properly, the orthodontist may find that treatment is also about:

  • How the teeth fit together
  • How the bite works overall
  • How stable the result is likely to be over time

Can Adults See A Private Orthodontist London Patients Trust For Crossbite Problems?

Yes, absolutely.

Crossbite treatment is not limited to children or teenagers. Adults can also seek orthodontic care for crossbite correction depending on the case. Many adults only start exploring treatment once they realise the bite issue itself may be worth correcting.

Adults often want to know:

  • Whether treatment can still help later in life
  • Whether discreet options may be available
  • Whether the crossbite is mild or more involved
  • Whether treatment will focus on both appearance and bite improvement

If you are looking for a private orthodontist London patients may consider for bite correction, the first step is a proper assessment rather than trying to judge the crossbite by appearance alone.

Why Adults Often Delay Crossbite Assessment

Adults sometimes postpone treatment because:

  • They think bite correction is mainly for children
  • They assume the issue is too minor to matter
  • They are unsure whether braces or aligners could help
  • They have adapted to the way their bite feels over time

FAQs: Can An Orthodontist Help With Crossbite Problems?

Patients often know orthodontists can straighten teeth, but they are not always sure whether a crossbite is something that can be improved with orthodontic treatment. These are some of the most common questions.

Can An Orthodontist Help With Crossbite Problems?

Yes. Orthodontists commonly assess and improve crossbite problems depending on how the bite presents and how complex the case is.

What Is A Crossbite?

A crossbite is when some upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth instead of outside them.

Is A Crossbite Only A Cosmetic Problem?

No. A crossbite affects the bite relationship as well as appearance, which is why orthodontists assess it carefully.

How Does An Orthodontist Check For A Crossbite?

They assess how the upper and lower teeth meet, identify where the bite sits the wrong way round, and use records such as scans or photographs where needed.

Can Braces Or Aligners Help A Crossbite?

Depending on the case, yes. Orthodontists may use braces or aligners to help improve the bite relationship and overall alignment.

Can Adults Have Orthodontic Treatment For A Crossbite?

Yes. Adults can also seek orthodontic treatment for crossbite correction depending on the case and treatment goals.

Why Does Crossbite Treatment Need Proper Planning?

Because the orthodontist needs to assess how the crossbite affects the full bite and understand how much correction is needed before recommending treatment.

Should The Orthodontist Explain My Crossbite Clearly?

Yes. A good orthodontist should explain what the crossbite is, why it matters, and how it affects the treatment plan.

Ask A Question

Looking For An Orthodontist In London For Crossbite Treatment?

If some of your upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth, your bite feels uneven, or you have been told you may have a crossbite, the best next step is a proper orthodontic assessment.

At Whites Dental, patients can explore orthodontist in London treatment options for adults, teenagers, and children, including Invisalign, metal braces, ceramic braces, and Damon braces.

Whether the issue is mild, more noticeable, or part of a wider bite concern, an orthodontic consultation can help show what is actually going on and whether treatment may help.

  • ✅ Specialist-led orthodontic assessments
  • ✅ Invisalign and fixed brace options
  • ✅ Adult and child suitability
  • ✅ Central London clinic locations

Ask A Question

Whites Dental
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

Whites Dental (“we”, “us” or “our”) are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

The practice respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy sets out how we will do this, taking into account data protection laws as well as our professional guidelines and requirements.

The data controller is Whites Dental; the Information Governance Lead is Deepa Chopra.

This Privacy Policy is available on the practice website at www.whitesdental.co.uk/privacy-policy, by email if you contact [email protected] or by calling the practice on 0204 527 3210.

This policy (together with our Cookies Policy) sets out the basis on which any personal data we collect, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us. It does not include data where the identity has been removed (i.e. anonymous data).

Please read the following carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will treat it.

You will be asked to provide personal information when joining the practice. The purpose of us processing this data is to provide optimum health care to you by, for example, recommending the most relevant treatment and ensuring your safety by taking your medical history.

The categories of data we process

  • Contact data (such as name, address, email address, telephone number) for the purposes of corresponding with you, for example, regarding your appointments and treatment.
  • Contact data (such as name, address, email address, telephone number) for the purposes of direct mail/email/text/marketing.
  • Special category data concerning health (including health records, medical history, medication, your doctor’s name and address, warning cards or bracelets, alcohol and drug use) for the purposes of the delivery of safe health care.
  • Treatment data (such as photos, moulds, X-rays, clinical findings) for the purposes of providing you with the best treatment.
  • Financial data (such as credit card details, bank account information, credit history, employment status) for the purposes of processing your payment for treatment(s).
  • Usage data (such as information about how you use our website, products and services) for the purposes of improving the way we provide our treatment and services.

The ways we collect information about you

We may collect and process the following data about you in operating the website and performing any of our services and treatment(s):

Direct
  • Information you give us (including information you give to our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists who are contracted to work for us). You may give us information about you by filling in forms on our website www.whitesdental.co.uk or by corresponding with us by phone, email, in person or otherwise.
  • Personal data is obtained when a patient joins the practice, when a patient is referred to the practice and when a patient subscribes to an email list.
Automatic
  • Information we automatically collect about you. With regard to each of your visits to our website we may automatically collect the following information:
  • Technical information, including the internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the internet, your login information, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plugin types and versions, operating system and platform; and
  • Information about your visit, including the full Uniform Resource Locators (URL) clickstream to, through and from our site (including date and time); products you viewed or searched for; page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information (such as scrolling, clicks, and mouseovers), and methods used to browse away from the page and any phone number used to call our customer service number.
From third parties
  • Our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists are third parties working for us as contractors, however, they are contractually bound to us with regard to obligations of confidentiality in the same way as our employees and by professional obligations of confidentiality.
  • You may have been referred to us for treatment from Invisalign and we will therefore receive contact data, special category data concerning health, treatment data and/or financial data from them.
  • Information we receive from other sources. We may receive information about you if you use any of the other websites we operate or the other services we provide.
  • We are also working closely with third parties (including, for example, business partners, subcontractors in technical, payment and delivery services, advertising networks, analytics providers, search information providers, credit reference agencies) and may receive information about you from them.
  • We use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on activity, collect demographic data, analyze performance metrics, and collect and evaluate other information relating to our website and internet usage. These third parties use cookies and other technologies to help analyse and provide us with data.

How we share data with third parties

We may share your Contact data, special category of data relating to health, Financial data, Treatment data and/or Usage data with selected third parties including:

  • Our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists.
  • Private health insurance companies (at your request if you are using private health insurance).
  • Credit reference agencies.
  • Equipment providers and laboratories such as Align Tech, Nimrodental, and Ashford Orthodontics.
  • Professional compliance organisations such as BDA.
  • Data storage and transfer platforms such as Microsoft Sharepoint and Dropbox.
  • Our payment platform Natwest.
  • Our practice management and CRM software providers Pearl.
  • Our live chat provider Quriobot.
  • Advertisers and advertising networks that require the data to select and serve relevant adverts to you and others such as Facebook.
  • Analytics and search engine providers that assist us in the improvement and optimisation of our site such as Google.

This is a list of the main third parties with whom we share your personal data. If you would like a full list of third parties who process your data, and their contact details, please contact us using the details set out above.

We never pass your personal details to a third party unless we have a contract for them to process data on our behalf and will otherwise keep it confidential.

If we intend to refer a patient to another practitioner or to secondary care such as a hospital we will gain your consent before the referral is made and the personal data is shared.

The website may include links to third party websites, plugins and applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements. When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the privacy notice of every website you visit.

Data transferred outside the EU

  • Personal data is stored in the EU whether in digital or hard copy format.
  • Personal data is stored in the US in digital format when the data storage company is certified with the EU-US Privacy Shield.

Lawful basis for processing personal data

The lawful bases for processing personal data (including providing your personal data to third parties) are:

  • Consent of the data subject for data relating to treatment, care, our services, processing payment, credit checks, marketing and reviews, improving our services and improving our website (including using data analytics). This will also apply to the storage of personal data for these purposes.
  • Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with the data subject or to take steps to enter into a contract such as the provision of the services by us.
  • Processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation such as financial, tax and contractual laws.

For consent relating to children and people who may not have mental capacity to give consent, please contact us using the details above for a copy of our Safeguarding and Mental Capacity policies.

The reason for processing special category data such as patients’ health data is:

  • The processing is necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine, for assessing the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or management of health or social care systems and services on the basis of Union or Member State law or a contract with a health professional; and
  • Data is processed by or under the responsibility of a professional subject to the obligation of professional secrecy under Union or Member State law or rules established by national competent bodies or by another person also subject to an obligation of secrecy under Union or Member State law or rules established by national competent bodies.

Purposes for processing personal data

We (and the third parties listed above) process your personal data for the following purposes:

  • To provide you with our services.
  • To discuss relevant treatments.
  • To provide a safe working environment for staff, contractors and patients.
  • To check your employment and financial status for payment plans.
  • To process payments.
  • To keep you informed of our latest offers, other services we provide and general marketing activities.
  • To obtain reviews and feedback on your experience of our services.
  • To store our data.

If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us by using the details set out above.

Data retention

The retention period for special category data in patient records is a minimum of 10 years and may be longer for complex records in order to meet our legal requirements. The retention periods for other personal data is two years after it was last processed.

You will receive marketing emails until you unsubscribe, either by contacting us or by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. For details of other retention periods please contact us using the details set out above.

Your personal data rights

You have the following personal data rights:

  • The right to be informed.
  • The right of access to your personal data, which enables you to receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.
  • The right to rectification of your personal data that you consider to be inaccurate. This enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate data we hold about you corrected.
  • The right to erasure. This enables you to ask us to delete or remove your personal data (however clinical records must be retained for a certain time period).
  • The right to restrict processing. This gives you the option to ask us to suspend the processing of your personal data e.g. if you want us to establish the data’s accuracy or you do not want us to erase it.
  • The right to data portability. If you request us to do so, we will provide to you, or a third party of your choice, your personal data in a commonly used, machine-readable format.
  • The right to object. This enables you to object to the processing of your personal data if you feel it impacts on your fundamental rights and freedoms, however, in some cases, we may have compelling legitimate grounds to process your information which can override your right to object.
  • The right to request confirmation as to whether or not your personal data is being processed.
  • The right to not have a decision made about you based solely on automated processing.

You have the right to withdraw consent at any time. If you request us to do so, we will no longer process your data. However, this will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdraw your consent. If you withdraw your consent, we will not be able to provide you with the services. You have the right to obtain a free copy of your patient records within one month of submitting a request.

If you are not a patient of the practice you have the right to withdraw consent for processing personal data, to have a free copy of it within one month of submitting a request, to correct errors in it or to ask us to delete it. You can also withdraw consent from communication methods such as telephone, email or text.

We have carried out a Privacy Impact Assessment and if you would like a copy please contact us using the details set out above.

If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, in the first instance, please contact us using the details set out above.

You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal data (or to exercise any of the other rights). However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive. Alternatively, we may refuse to comply with your request in these circumstances.

We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal data (or to exercise any of your other rights). This is a security measure to ensure that personal data is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it. We may also contact you to ask you for further information in relation to your request to speed up our response.

Further details of these rights can be obtained on the Information Commissioner’s website.

Data security

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so.

Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted through our website; any transmission is at your own risk. Once we have received your information, we will use strict procedures and security features to try to prevent unauthorised access.

Comments, suggestions and complaints

Please contact the practice for a comment, suggestion or a complaint about your data processing at [email protected], or 0204 527 3210 or by writing to or visiting the practice. We take complaints very seriously.

If you are unhappy with our response or if you need any advice you should contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Their telephone number is 0303 123 1113, you can also find other contact options here. The ICO can investigate your claim and take action against anyone who’s misused personal data. You can also visit their website for information on how to make a data protection complaint.

Marketing by us

We offer individuals real choice and control. Our consent procedures put individuals in charge to build customer trust and engagement.

Our consent for marketing requires a positive opt-in, we don’t use pre-ticked boxes or any other method of default consent. We make it easy for people to withdraw consent, tell you how to and keep contemporaneous evidence of consent. Consent to marketing is never a precondition of a service.

You will receive marketing communications from us if you have requested information from us or if you have signed up via our contact form on the website and, in each case, you have not opted out of receiving that marketing.

Marketing by third parties

We do not share your data with third parties for marketing purposes.

Opting out

Where you opt-out of receiving these marketing messages, this means that you may not receive messages relating to your appointments or treatment so please let us know by using the details set out above if you would like to continue to receive messages about your appointments and treatment.