Expanding the jaw generates the room and assists to deal with conditions like cross bite, overcrowding, and impacted teeth.
This is a common orthodontic procedure. Once skeleton gets matured somewhere around 14 and 18 years of age, this suture fused and the palate developed into a single solid structure.The expander provides the desired amount of expansion, the orthodontist will normally leave it in place for several months holding the two halves of the palate separately. Also rarely the alar base can widen, following the palate widening. The facial changes you see are part of the growing face, plus a little extra width in the upper jaw, which is a very favorable change!The palatal expander does NOT break the jaw. When we use an expander at the correct age there still is not a fusion of the bones. People first think about braces when they think about orthodontics. The cost of palatal expander treatment is well worth it.
Palate expander or palatal expander is a device that an A palate expander is a device we place on the roof of the mouth to “expand” or widen the palate, or upper jaw. In growing children, the upper jaw has 2 bones, the right half & the left half and there is a separation we call the “suture.” Remember the “soft spot” on a baby’s head? That is the suture of all the skull bones that eventually fuse together. The palate is just like that – 2 bones that eventually fuse together! While using a palatal expander, we are simply “pushing” the 2 bones apart at the suture with very little to no discomfort. Many children receive a palatal expander to correct bite issues, such as a crossbite, underbite, severe crowding in the developing teeth (not enough space for permanent teeth), and also, AIRWAY issues.The floor of the nose is the same bone as the roof of the mouth, therefore you will notice less restriction in airflow through the nose. This helps reduce or eliminate MOUTH BREATHING or open mouth posture at rest. Many children have sleep disordered breathing due to narrow airways. In our office, we do a full airway assessment with 3D imaging and a comprehensive oral & physical examination to determine if airway issues are present. Symptoms of sleep disordered breathing or sleep apnea are: not sleeping well through the night, trouble focusing during the day, tired/dark circles under the eyes, and forward tongue posture (Dr. Danielle will help determine if the tongue is postured forward or downward & work with you on these aspects).An expander works by pushing the 2 bones of the upper jaw apart while it is very soft & malleable. By widening the upper jaw, we create a lot of room for new developing teeth, correcting bites, and increasing airways.It is easier to show you than to tell you so we are sharing our palatal expander insertion video.An expander is a metal appliance that sits on the roof of the mouth, so when smiling, you cannot see the appliance! Here is what it looks like:The palate expander key is simply the tool you will use to activate or turn the expander. You will do 1 turn per day for approximately 28 days, or as prescribed by the orthodontist.While a palate expander does not change the face shape, it is widening the upper jaw, so the smile appears wider.
Answer: Cost will depend on your specific case and they are typically not used in a 20 year old The cost will depend on your specific case, its severity, and the area that you live in. Since palatal expansion is medically necessary, most insurance plans cover most or all of the treatment costs.
While in adults jaws is not expandable. Typically, wires wrap arou…
Before you hit puberty, your palate, also known as your maxilla, was comprised of two bones that came together at the center, or the midline suture. Although it can be used in adults successfully but the effects of expansion are somewhat more uncomfortable and painful. However, there are further orthodontic treatments generally used to improve the look, smile or the arrangement of the teeth. All Rights Reserved. One of these treatments is a palatal expander.