Crossbite: A crossbite is when upper teeth misalign, sitting inside lower teeth because the upper jaw is too narrow. Does My Child Need A Palate Expander? As the jaw expands, new bone fills in between the two halves of the palate. How can you eat with an expander in place? When the top teeth bite inside the bottom teeth, it often creates an unnatural biting surface for those teeth.
Schedule an Appointment. The lock is turned at a rate prescribed by the orthodontist and will vary from patient to patient. Palate expanders are orthodontic devices that take advantage of the bone growth process to reshape the structure of a person's jaw. What's The Difference Between Braces And Expanders. If your child experiences moderate to severe discomfort or pain, stop turning the appliance and call our office. Think of this soft spot as a growth area that runs right down the middle of our upper jaw, allowing it to widen as a child grows.
A palatal expander applies gradual pressure to widen the space in your child's mouth over a 3-12 month period. It appears as if the turn was completed successfully, but when you go to make another turn the key will not go into the new hole. These appliances are uniquely fabricated for addressing jaw problems. That's why palatal expanders are different for each case they are applied to. Can you have an expander and braces at the same time?. They have been used by dentists and orthodontists for over 150 years! With a narrow upper jaw that is in need of an expander, crossbites will often be present. There are some expansion appliances that may be used on the lower arch, but these appliances are not meant to expand the bones of the lower jaw. Palate expander can be used on its own, or in combination with other orthodontic appliances such as Braces, Functional Appliances, or Headgears. A bitesplint is a custom-fit rubber mouthpiece worn on the lower teeth. This may sound a bit scary to separate the bones of the palate, but when done according to the proper protocol, it is safe and results in only minimal discomfort.
They are held in place by tubes on the upper molars and attached to the lower archwire. After the orthodontic expander has provided the desired amount of expansion, we typically leave it in place for several months holding the two halves of the palate apart while new bone develops between them. Palatal Expanders: What Are They and How Do They Work. Wear the bitesplint all the time, except when eating or brushing your teeth. The Impact of Rapid Palatal Expansion on Children's General Health: A Literature Review.
It's crucial to wear the headgear at least 14 hours a day. If you are interested in a consultation, please contact our Portland office today! If our only concern is the narrow upper jaw and the position of the teeth is satisfactory, we will commence with the expander treatment and once complete, we will end treatment. Can you have braces and an expander at the same time. Once someone is into their twenties, a standard palatal expander usually will not effectively expand the bones of the palate – at this point a MARPE or SARPE may be the better alternative (these are discussed below). Palatal expanders usually are recommended for around 6 to 12 months.
As the expander pushes outward, the stretched gum tissue starts pulling the teeth back together. Loop the string (attached to the special key) around your finger or wrist to prevent it from accidentally slipping down the throat. The most common age for palate expander treatment is from 8 to 15 years of age. You can ease into the experience by eating soft and easy-to-swallow foods like scrambled eggs, smoothies, yogurt, and tofu. Expander and braces at the same time?. Use a Waterpik® and mouthwash to keep your mouth free of spoiled, irritating food particles. Understandably, many parents call our office worried that the orthodontic expander has slipped and that the benefits achieved during the activation phase have been lost. A 38-year-old member asked: How long do you have to wear the palate expander for braces? We commonly use this appliance for patients who have an impacted permanent tooth, and exposure of that tooth is suggested. A 37-year-old member asked: Is it safe to get braces and a palate expander at the same time?
Around 14-17 years of age, this mid-palatal suture fuses and the palate becomes a single solid structure. They have almost the same effect as rubber bands and are primarily used when patients have proven to be uncooperative with rubber band and/or headgear wear. Correcting overbite and underbite (in combination with other orthodontic appliances). 4 Types of Palate Expanders (Uses, Side Effects & FAQs. Therefore, children may see results from palatal expanders more quickly than adults. Third, expanders can correct overbite, underbite, overcrowding, and certain alignment problems – to a degree. A palatal expander is custom made for your child's mouth and widens the upper jaw by placing gentle pressure on the upper teeth each time the appliance is turned, making more room for adult teeth. Patients who wear their headgear appropriately can usually be finished with it within a year. Your gums are elastic, just like other soft tissues in the body, such as skin.