Crossbite effects are due to misalignment in the teeth. Here is how it can be treated with the use of quad helix expander and the rapid maxillary expander.

1. Crossbites: Know the effective ways to fix them
The prevalence of crossbites among humans is very unfortunate as it can lead to
severe dental complexities. A crossbite is caused due to misalignment in the teeth,
leading to the teeth coming together, but either inside or totally outside of its proper
positions. It is also often referred to as a 'bad bite' as the two rows of teeth don't meet
properly. In the case of a normal bite, the upper teeth generally sit a little towards the
outside of the lower teeth at the front, sides and the back of the mouth. Usually, the
most common crossbite occurs when the top back teeth are inside the lowers on just
one side. Hence, when the bite isn't right, proper dental care must be taken to fix the
teeth at the earliest.
The possible effects of Crossbite
The several problems that may arise from a crossbite includes:
 misaligned bites may result in various types of dental problems, health &
emotional issues, dental anxiety, etc.
 Tooth decay and gum disease might become a definitive, if not treated
properly.
 stress on the jaws can lead to the prevalence of chronic jaw problems &

2. headaches.
 One may associate pain in the neck, shoulder and back area of the body as
well as a result of crossbite prevalence.
The Treatment
A visit to the dentist is a must when suffering from crossbites. Ideally, one should
preferably look to get treated while still a teenager, but the option is also open for
adults just in case they get affected at a later age. Generally, in the most commonly
occurring crossbite, the upper tooth can be widened. Here we will talk about two
types of dental braces that can be used for treating Crosssbites.
 Quad Helix Expander
 Rapid Maxillary Expander
Quad Helix Expander
This is one type of a fixed brace that is designed in a 'W' shaped form and consists of
four loops. This helps in widening the upper tooth arch. On the proper fitting of the
expander, it compresses so that it can gradually expand and push the back teeth
outwards. In the initial period, it might cause mild to low discomfort. The expander
needs to be in place for a total time period of six months ideally. Three months to
correct a crossbite and another three months to hold the correction. Once the quad
helix expander is removed, there might be chances of the crossbite reverting back to
its original position. To prevent this, the crossbite will have to be retained for a year
after the expander is removed. A retainer (removable brace) will be fitted for the
purpose of retaining the crossbite for a year. The success of the entire procedure will
depend on how accurately the retainer is used after the removal of the expander.

3. Rapid Maxillary Expander
The rapid maxillary expander is another kind of a brace that is attached to the upper
teeth. The difference in this expander is that it consists of a screw in the middle of the
palate. For two weeks straight, the screw is turned twice per day. This helps in the
expansion of the upper jaw in rapid time. One might experience some discomfort for
the initial few days. The pain can be controlled obviously with the help of any
prescribed pain relief pill or even a paracetamol. No kind of damage should be
associated with the fixed brace expander as it only needs to be in place for a
minimum of three months.
Once the expander is removed, it is replaced with a removable retainer. However, it
has to be kept in mind that in order to avoid permanent decay around the fixings, a lot
of consistency has to go in with cleaning the teeth properly. Too much of fizzy drinks
should be avoided and a lot of emphasis should be given on brushing. It is almost
needless to mention the importance of using fluoride mouthwash. In order to ensure
that the improvement is permanent, the removable retainer has to be put to correct use
for a year after the expander has been removed.