Palatal Expander
Treating or preventing malocclusions, commonly known as misaligned bites, is best done when the patient is young so that they can receive the maximum benefits of orthodontic treatment with minimal time invested. A palatal expander is a device designed to create more space in a child's mouth by gradually expanding the diameter between the upper jaw. Although it may sound intimidating at first, it's quite gentle. Since the upper portion of the human jaw develops has two separate halves that don't totally fuse together until after puberty, the jaw's bones can be gently separated and stabilized in order to properly align a bite over the course of several months.
When is a Palatal Expander Needed?
There are three typical situations where a palatal expander is ideal:
1) Correcting a Crossbite: when a child's upper jaw grows to be improperly sized to fit their lower jaw, the top teeth in the back of the mouth will bite inside of the lower teeth rather than the outside. This malocclusion can be addressed by expanding the child's upper jaw.
2) Correcting Teeth Crowding: it's possible to tell prior to a child's adult teeth fully developing when there will not be sufficient room to accommodate them in their mouth. Using a palatal expander to widen the upper jaw will create the necessary room without needing to extract any teeth.
3) Impacted Teeth: if a tooth that hasn't fully come in yet is blocked by other teeth in the mouth, widening the upper jaw with a palatal expander can allow the tooth to emerge (erupt) in a proper position on its own. This is most typical for canines, which are the pointier teeth located directly under the eye sockets.
The Benefits of Expanding the Upper Jaw
There are numerous other benefits that come with expanding the upper jaw, such as:
- broadening a smile
- limiting the number of teeth that need to be extracted
- improving breathing
- improving sleep quality
- balancing the face
Utilizing a palatal expander can also reduce the time needed for other orthodontic treatments, such as the use of braces.
How Does a Palatal Expander Work?
Each palatal expander is custom-made for each patient so that it fits over several top teeth in the rear of the mouth. The appliance has two parts that are united in the Middle with a screw. In order to adjust the device, the screw is turned a tiny amount during a scheduled time each day with a special key that's provided by the orthodontist. This will create tension at the appropriate angles of the two palatal bones, resulting in them slowly moving apart from one another. After the desired expansion is reached, the palatal expander is left in place for a couple more months so that new bone is able to feel in the gap and finalize the result.
What to Expect When Wearing a Palatal Expander?
Although some patients report a slight feeling of pressure or soreness for a few minutes after the scheduled turning of the key, activating a palatal expander causes less discomfort than having a child's braces tightened. Eating and speaking may feel a little different at first, but the tongue will quickly adapt to the presence of the appliance in the mouth, and normal speech will follow.
There may also be a slight gap developing between the front teeth, which is actually a good sign because it means that the palatal expander is doing its job properly. The child's permanent teeth will be aligned accordingly after the rest of the orthodontic treatments are completed. Generally, palatal expanders are worn for 3-7 months, depending on the patient's unique needs.
Correcting Your Child's Bite
As always, proper use of any orthodontic appliance will be expected in order to achieve the desired outcomes. At Fruge Orthodontics, we consider both patient and orthodontist as partners on a quest for the perfect smile. Taking these important steps during the early portions of your child's life will pay them dividends down the road. If you're ready to make sure that your child's bite pattern is properly aligned for the future, send us an email or give us a phone call today to learn more about our services and what our empathetic staff can do for you!