Crossbite
A malocclusion in which one or more upper teeth bite inside (lingual to) the lower teeth, rather than outside, when the jaws are closed.
Full Definition
A crossbite is a misalignment of dental arches in which the normal buccal-lingual relationship of upper and lower teeth is reversed for one or more tooth pairs. It may be anterior (involving front teeth) or posterior (involving premolars or molars), and unilateral or bilateral. In dental records and orthodontic pre-authorisation narratives, crossbite must be specified by location and type because insurance medical-necessity criteria often require specific malocclusion descriptions to justify orthodontic benefits. Editors should note that 'crossbite' is written as one word—not 'cross bite' or 'cross-bite'—in current ADA and orthodontic literature. It is commonly confused with 'underbite', which describes a broader jaw relationship rather than individual tooth positions.
Usage
Usage note: One word, no hyphen: 'crossbite'. Always specify whether anterior or posterior, and unilateral or bilateral, in clinical and insurance documents.
In Context
- "The orthodontic narrative described a unilateral posterior crossbite affecting teeth #4 and #29, supporting the medical necessity claim for full banding." — Orthodontic pre-authorisation narrative
- "The editor corrected 'cross-bite' to 'crossbite' throughout the referral letter in line with current ADA style." — Orthodontic referral letter, editorial revision