A myofunctional approach to treatment of anterior cross bites

A cross bite of one or more anterior teeth can interfere with the function of the incisocanine block in guiding mandibular escursive and protrusive movements out of a position of occlusion. When this type of malocclusion occurs without any associated skeletal imbalance, orthodontists can correct it with relative ease by using a variety of well-documented appliances. The objective of this article is to describe a myofunctional approach for dealing with this problem. In it, the orthodontist first removes the cross bite’s blockage of tooth movement by placing glass-ionomer cement blocks on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth. When this is done the tongue, labial, and cheek musculature can accomplish their role, without inhibition, of correcting positions of the dentoalveolar arches in two or three months.