crossbite

1 7.5

A problem where the top and bottom teeth do not line up when the mouth is closed

noun
/ˈkrɔsˌbaɪt/

Specialized

: mordida cruzada

Children with a crossbite may need early dental intervention to prevent future problems.

Examples

A crossbite can lead to jaw pain.
The orthodontist recommended braces to correct her crossbite and improve her smile.
A severe crossbite can cause difficulty in chewing and jaw pain if left untreated.
She has a crossbite that needs correction.
The dentist explained that I have a crossbite, which affects my bite alignment.
After my checkup, the orthodontist said I need braces to correct my crossbite.
She was surprised to learn that her crossbite could lead to jaw pain if untreated.

Synonyms

overbite

vscrossbite

Specialized

8 4.4

Upper front teeth stick out over the lower front teeth

describes misalignment generally not specifically a vertical front overlap

abocclusion

vscrossbite

Specialized

9.9

The top teeth do not touch the bottom teeth when the jaws are closed or biting

refers to general tooth misalignment rather than complete lack of contact

Surface Forms

crossbite singular

crossbites plural

Morphology

crossbite = cross + bite (semi-transparent) = cross + bite

The elements 'cross' + 'bite' transparently indicate a type of bite involving a cross/incorrect alignment, but the precise clinical meaning (specific malocclusion patterns) is domain-specific and not obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Crossbite comes from cross ('across' or 'wrong') and bite ('to use the teeth'), so imagine the top and bottom teeth crossing instead of lining up. That's why a crossbite means the teeth do not line up properly when the mouth is closed and may need to be fixed by a dentist.