Understanding the Benefits and Process of Palate Expander
If you’ve been told you or your child needs a palate expander, you might wonder what that entails and if it’s worth the time and money. A palate expander, if recommended by your dentist or orthodontist, is almost always necessary.
A palatal expander is a device that is used to make more space in your child’s mouth so that they have enough space for their teeth. An expander is always used sometimes in conjunction with braces to fix underbites and overbites.
While a palate expander might sound scary, it’s a common device used and there is no reason to be worried about it. Our orthodontist in Robbinsville NJ can answer all the questions you may have to put your mind at ease.
Benefits of a Teeth Expander
There are numerous benefits to a palatal expander which is why it’s one of the most used and recommended appliances. Here are some of the main benefits of an expander so you can understand how it’s helping you and your children.
Widens Your Jaw
An expander will widen the upper jaw gradually. It puts pressure on the premolars as well as the upper molars each time you adjust the expander. Most expanders can be adjusted at home. Smaller children and teens might need help adjusting the expander since it can be hard to reach.
When the jaw is widened, more space is created in the mouth for the teeth. This allows the new adult teeth to grow without being overcrowded or without overlapping.
It can save your child a lot of time and pain because tooth extraction is usually not necessary if the child has had a palate expander.
Helps With Airway Obstruction
When the upper jaw is widened, it makes it easier for your child to breathe through their nose which can eliminate mouth breathing. If your child is always breathing through their mouth, it’s important to get their jaw evaluated to see if an expander could help them to breathe better.
Palate expanders have been found to also help with snoring, teeth grinding, and even bed wetting. It can also decrease the chance of your child getting sleep apnea when they get older.
Reduces the Chances of Teeth Impaction
When there is overcrowding in the mouth, there is not enough room for new teeth to come in. When there is a new tooth that does not have space to come through, this is called tooth impaction.
It can be blocked by existing teeth and does not have enough space to come in on its own. Impacted teeth are very painful and they often require surgery to fix. When you use a palate expander, you save your child from having to go undergo painful surgeries in the future.
Corrects Crossbites
Sometimes the upper jaw can be too narrow and the teeth on the upper jaw do not fit well with the teeth in the lower jaw. When the upper jaw is widened, it can easily correct this issue. This is called a crossbite and is a common problem with children and teens.
A crossbite can be unilateral or bilateral. A palate expander can fix your crossbite whether it’s unilateral or bilateral.
Get the Perfect Smile
If you’re worried about your smile or the jaw your jaw alignment looks, a palate expander is the perfect answer to many of your issues. When the jaws do not fit well, it can also cause people to only chew on one side which can wear down the teeth and also cause you to have asymmetry in the mouth which is not good functionally or aesthetically.
When you fix your issues with a palate expander, you will find that many of your smile problems disappear and you can have the confident and beautiful smile you have always dreamed of.
The Process of a Palate Expander
Now that you know many of the great benefits of an expander, you might be curious about what the exact process is. Knowing how an expander works is important because you want to ensure you are adjusting it well so that it does its job.
In the middle of your teeth expander, there will be a small screw. You will turn the screw every day with a key that is just for the expander. Your orthodontist will give you the key and show you how to turn the screw.
As time passes, the two palatal bones will move apart which widens the jaw. There are also rapid palate expanders that are used in some cases. These can widen the jaw by about 0.5 millimeters every day.
Although having to put the key in every day and expand your jaw might sound scary, it’s actually very easy and does not hurt very badly. However, it’s normal for your jaw and mouth to be a little sore.
Eating and Cleaning With Your Expander
You can most foods with your palate expander as long as they are not too crunchy, sticky, or chewy. The first few times you adjust the expander, your jaw will be sore so you might want to eat only soft food that does not require too much chewing.
Make sure you eat a healthy diet that is low on sugar this way your teeth and gums stay healthy while you have the expander in your mouth.
Cleaning your expander is very important. There will be a small space between the appliance and the roof of your mouth. This space can trap food so you will need to use a water flosser to remove any food.
You can then use a normal toothbrush to gently clean the expander.
Get Your Palate Expander At Bordentown Braces
If you or someone in your family needs a palate expander, come to Bordentown Braces. Our orthodontist, Dr. Newman, will show you how the expander works and cover all the benefits for you so you know how helpful it is to you and your child.
Give us a call today at 609-291-8555 to schedule an appointment or consultation.
Looking for braces or Invisalign? Looking for an board certified Orthodontist in Central NJ that treats kids, teens and adults? Bordentown Braces serves all surrounding areas of Bordentown, NJ including:
