Expanders

What is a palatal expander?

A palatal expander is a device designed to take advantage of the developmental changes in a child’s teeth and jaw. It works by gradually widening the upper jaw to create more space in the mouth. Although this may seem intimidating, the upper jaw consists of two separate halves that do not fully fuse until after puberty. During this time, each half can be gently separated and stabilized using a palatal expander. Since expanders work in tandem with the growth of the teeth and jaw, this treatment is time-sensitive.

Palatal expanders consist of two parts connected in the middle by a screw. They are custom-made to fit over several of the top back teeth in a child’s mouth. The expander is activated by turning the screw in small increments each day with a special key, which creates tension at the junction of the two palatal bones and gradually moves them apart. Once the desired expansion is achieved, the appliance is typically kept in place for a few more months to allow new bone to form in the gap and stabilize the expansion. Palatal expanders are usually worn for a total of 9 to 12 months.

Who can benefit from a palatal expander?

Children typically lose their baby teeth and get their permanent teeth between the ages of 6 and 13. However, some children have jaws that are too small to accommodate their adult teeth, which can result in crowded teeth and misalignment. Palatal expanders can be helpful in many of these cases by:

  • Reducing or eliminating overcrowding: Expanders create space for all of a child’s upper teeth to come in correctly.
  • Reducing the risk of impacted teeth: If an unerupted tooth is blocked by other teeth, widening the upper jaw can create room for it to emerge.
  • Correcting a crossbite: The upper teeth should close around the outside of the lower teeth, but a narrow palate can cause the upper teeth to bite inside the lower teeth. An expander can correct this before serious asymmetrical jaw growth occurs, restoring facial symmetry.

Expanding the upper jaw with a palatal expander can also improve a child’s smile, limit the need for tooth extraction, and may shorten treatment time if a child needs braces or clear aligners later on.

INVISALIGN® PALATAL EXPANDER:

In addition to the traditional expander we now offer the Invisalign® Palatal Expander system.  Click the following link for more information.  https://www.invisalign.com/palatal-expander

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