X-bite

Cross bite is a shortcoming common in children with a congenital condition of a narrow jaw or developmental problem resulting from under-development of the upper jaw due to breathing through the mouth and blockage of the respiratory tract of the nose. This phenomenon is characteristic of children who suffered from frequent infections of the respiratory tract in childhood, asthmatics and thumb- or pacifier-sucking children beyond the age of 3-4. In a situation where the entire upper jaw narrows, there is usually protrusion of the upper front teeth, and "inverted" or cross bite at the back, while the lower jaw "envelopes" the upper instead of the upper "enveloping" the lower.