Our DS, 6, has a crossbite. The dentist and orthodontist say to get it corrected, which requires lots of $$$$$ and 6-12 months of an expander in his mouth. The crossbite isn't hurting anything, but maybe he would like to go through life with nice straight teeth? I know it's better to correct this stuff, but my adage is, if it's not causing problems, don't mess with it.
I'm torn on this one. Can anyone give advice? DH has a crossbite, and of course, says, just leave it alone. But I think DH's teeth look awful. Maybe it's influencing my thoughts? Please advise. Thanks.

Yes the cross bite is hurting mildly.
It will cause digestion issues as you don't chew properly, setting up for TMJ, headaches, tooth grinding clenching...
To fix it now...well look a the costs of fixing it as an adult - when surgery and braces is your ONLY option...well for me it has been 7 years of treatment 4 surgeries...and tens of thousands of dollars...I have heard of people spending over 50k.....50k!!!

I have no experience with a cross bite but I do know that now that I am older, I have issues with my teeth that can't be fixed. They could have been easily fixed when I was younger, but now that I'm older it's impossible to fix it.

Its much easier to fix a cross bit younger rather than older. Yes as PP said it can set the stage for TMJ problems as an adult.

My dd had a cross bit that we had fixed when she was 7-8. Her teeth were already very chipped up from the bad alignment. It is much easier and cheeper to get a cross bite fixed while the jaw is still growing. As your child grows, the cross bite will most likely get worse and worse. If you wait and your ds has it done as an adult it requires very painful surgery where they break the jaw and wire it shut for 6-8 weeks.

If you wait and your ds has it done as an adult it requires very painful surgery where they break the jaw and wire it shut for 6-8 weeks. lol and that's the travel brochure version...
you can fix cross bites/open bites/overunderbites at any age I know of people to do the surgery in their 60's...but its as major surgery as you get... I had my upper palate sawn off = yep get that visual FREED FROM MY SKULL reshaped (planed a bit off for the correct angle) and screwed back into place it took a few weeks for the skin to reattack so if you gag when something touches that punching bag at the back of your mouth imagine your palate all that skin is just hanging.... barf city lovely to do with stiches and wired shut...heaven....
My lower jaw was sawn in four seperate peices...moved forward ...
add in screws, plates, splints, braces, drooling on yourself like stroke victim, sucking food through a straw for weeks, learning to speak/use mouth again.
I wish my parents had been on the ball and had treated me while I was still growing it would have taken a few months not 7 years of brutal expensive surgery that most people lol who are probably smarter than me don't do ;) I dont' regret the surgery but if my mom had fixed my cross bite I would have had such better self esteem and smiled showing my teeth not with my hand covering my face
i now smile and show them teeth ;) as I should I paid for them like new car paid for them.