An orthodontic device called palatal expanders "expands" the upper teeth when you have a narrow upper jaw by applying gentle pressure to the upper two palatal bones during daily adjustments or activations.
A palate expander is an orthodontic appliance that helps the maxillary expansion of crowded teeth to broaden narrow palates so that permanent teeth can erupt into the mouth with enough room to develop.
The applications, varieties, side effects, and maintenance of palatal expanders are covered in this article, as well as palatal expander costs.
WHAT IS A PALATE EXPANDER?
Oral devices called palatal expanders, often known as an orthodontic expander is an orthodontic appliance used to enlarge a small upper jaw. Palate expanders work by fitting in your mouth roof and gradually pulling your jawbone's halves apart, making more space for overcrowded teeth.
Most people who utilize palatal expanders are for a child's mouth, making room for permanent teeth. But palatal expansion can also exist in adults and teenagers.
HOW DO PALATE EXPANDERS WORK?
Palate expanders are an orthodontic treatment made up of two sections that are connected to the upper back molars on both sides of the jaw. The halves are usually held together by a screw located in the center of the mouth.
You'll be handed a key to rotate the screw on a predetermined timetable for palatal expansion. This maintains pressure on both jawbone halves, forcing them to broaden and migrate apart.
Palate expanders are created to order. The orthodontist will take an imprint of the upper jaw and teeth. This imprint will be submitted to a laboratory, where a custom-fit expander will be created.
TYPES OF PALATE EXPANDERS
Palate expanders come in a variety of styles, including those that are detachable. However, they are frequently kept in the mouth until the therapy is finished.
REMOVABLE
Like a retainer, removable palate expanders are a device you can remove. Even though the gadget may be removed, it is nevertheless intended to be worn at all times. You may take it out to eat or clean.
Orthodontists often use these sorts of devices only in mild cases. These devices are turned less often than those in the mouth—every few days rather than daily.
HYRAX
This device is maintained in place by some bands that wrap over the teeth. The device's center rests on the mouth’s roof. It has many screws that, when turned, enlarge the device. It is generally recommended that people spin the screws using a key device daily.
QUAD HELIX
A quad helix device, like the hyrax, is attached to the teeth with some metal bands. It’s a U-shaped metal appliance that expands using four-helix springs.
You don't have to flip a key or manually activate the gadget at home. Instead, an orthodontist will alter it regularly.
HAAS
A hyrax device is comparable to a Haas expander. Acrylic conceals the screws that protrude from the mouth's roof. An orthodontist uses metal bands to secure this device to the teeth. It necessitates regular changes at home with a special key turning system.
SIDE EFFECTS OF A PALATAL EXPANDER
Many patients are concerned about palatal expander discomfort during therapy. However, this is not usually the case. Your palatal expander should not give you any pain when it is placed on your teeth or when you use it during your treatment time.
When you turn the key to activate your palatal expander, you may feel tingling around your teeth and on the bridge of your nose. This common adverse effect of palatal expanders will go away within a few minutes.
It is typical to have some moderate pain during the first week of using your palatal expander. That's because your teeth need to adjust to the new appliance. This phase of adjustment should only last around a week.
DO PALATE EXPANDERS CAUSE HARM?
Palate expanders do not cause pain while worn. It should also be painless to adjust impacted teeth.
When you adjust your expander, you may feel a tingling sensation in your teeth or a slight pressure along the roof of your mouth. This discomfort might spread to your nose or eyes. It usually lasts around five minutes before disappearing.
DO PALATE EXPANDERS MAKE IT CHALLENGING TO CHEW AND SWALLOW FOOD?
Palate expanders, like braces and other orthodontic appliances, require some getting used to. You may become too conscious of the sensations created by speaking, chewing, and swallowing for a few days.
You may also notice your tongue pressing on the expander. It is also typical to have a sore or full feeling on the roof of your mouth for a day or two.
It will take roughly a week to become adjusted to your expander. It may be beneficial to consume soft, easy-to-swallow meals that need little chewing at this period.
Smoothies, scrambled eggs, tofu, and yogurt are all acceptable options. Chewing sticky or chewy foods like gum, hard sweets, and sticky or chewy meals like steak, taffy, or apples should be avoided.
HOW MUCH DOES A PALATE EXPANDER COST?
A new palate expander therapy is definitely worth the expense. Palatal expander treatments can be used as the only therapy in Phase I interceptive treatment or as part of a complete treatment plan that includes braces. The treatment expenses will differ significantly in two ways.
The cost of Phase I interceptive therapy with a palatal expander ranges from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the kind of expander used and the number of expander appliance inspections required.
Comprehensive treatment with braces that includes an expansion appliance can cost between $3500 and $6000, depending on the length of your treatment, the type of braces you choose, and any further upgrades you want for your therapy.
The impression/digital scan, fabrication, insertion, and appliance checks for your palatal expander are all included in the appliance charge at the average orthodontic facility. Before beginning any treatment, confirm this with your orthodontist.
WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM A PALATE EXPANDER?
If you have any of the following needs, your dentist or orthodontist may prescribe a palate expander.
- Teeth that are crowded
- Teeth that are overlapping
- Crooked teeth
- Teeth that are impacted
- Chewing is difficult
- An improperly positioned bite (crossbite, open, overbite, underbite)
A palate expander is a device that expands your jaw. This might provide extra room for your teeth or enhance the fit of your upper and lower teeth.
Children and adults with obstructive sleep apnea may also benefit from palate expansion.
HOW TO ADJUST A PALATE EXPANSION DEVICE
If you have an upper jaw removable palate expander appliance, that has to be adjusted manually. In that case, your orthodontist will provide you with video or written instructions on spinning the screw. They'll also provide you with a calendar or chart to track how frequently you adjust your expander.
The palate expander will have a row of small holes that allow you to see when the screw is cranked one at a time. You'll be given a key, which resembles an opened paperclip linked to a handle.
Insert the key into a small, visible hole in the screw and spin toward the rear of the mouth to adjust the palate expander. A new hole appears as a result of this rotation. If the rotation is not completed, the new gap will not emerge.
WHEN SHOULD A CHILD GET A PALATE EXPANDER?
Jawbones are still building and developing in youngsters. As a result, orthodontists frequently recommend that kids use a palate expander when they are 7 or 8 years old. When your orthodontist begins manipulating bones at a young age, it reduces the possibility that your kid may require more invasive operations later in life. Most of the time, it takes two to three months to attain the desired outcomes.
Because the bones of teenagers and adults are already strong and formed, it might take up to a year to get the desired results with a palate expander.
But remember that everyone's case is different, and not everyone needs a palate expander as part of their therapy. Consult your healthcare practitioner about what is best for you.
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU GENERALLY USE A PALATE EXTENDER?
Jawbones fully develop once puberty has occurred. Palate expanders are most effective before the jawbone has consolidated and stopped growing. As a result, palate expanders are required for a shorter amount of time in youngsters than in teens or adults.
Palate expanders can extend the jaw to the appropriate size in youngsters in roughly 2 to 3 months. The device is left in place for another 4 to 6 months to allow the two sides of the jawbone to fuse and the teeth to settle correctly.
This procedure may take a year or longer in older adults with fully formed jaws. A conventional gadget may be unable to broaden the jaw at all. Your orthodontist may propose a surgically placed palate expander instead in some cases.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEETH AND GUMS WHILE WEARING A PALATE EXPANSION DEVICE
It is critical to maintaining your teeth, gums, and expander free of germs, plaque, and debris. Plaque accumulation and potentially causing tooth damage can create irritation and inflamed gums, making it difficult to adjust your expander.
Brush and floss your teeth regularly, especially after meals. Your dentist may advise you to use an electric or manual toothbrush.
You may also use a mouth rinse squirted into the device's nooks and crannies.
Eat foods that are chewy, sticky, or hard. Nuts and carrots, which produce a lot of small particles, should also be avoided.
Instruct your child not to chew hard items like pencils, which might harm the gadget.
SUMMARY
Palate expander devices are orthodontic appliances primarily used in children to expand a narrow mouth. Palate expanders come in a variety of forms. Sometimes they are held into place by bands on the rear teeth, while others are removable. While how it works depends on the device, you will adjust it with a special key or other tool, increasing the pressure anywhere from once a week to once a day. You should avoid eating hard, sticky foods that can damage the appliance.
FAQS
HOW PAINFUL IS A PALATE EXPANDER?
Like any new dental appliance, palate expanders might cause moderate pain for the first few days. Some folks experience minor discomfort after turning the key. Take over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to lessen soreness.
WHAT IS THE BEST AGE TO GET A PALATE EXPANDER?
When a child is around 7 to 8 years old, it is the best time to get a palate expander. Because the palate forms quickly, orthodontists can reshape it more easily. As children grow older, usually around puberty, the palate structure solidifies, making it more challenging to widen.
WHEN IS IT TOO LATE TO USE AN UPPER JAW PALATE EXPANDER?
Your child is in the best position to benefit from an expander after age five and up until sixteen. Most of a child's adult teeth and molars have emerged by this age. It is preferable if a few adult teeth have yet to appear in the upper jaw.
HOW LONG DO PALATE EXPANDERS STAY IN?
A palatal expander will stay in the mouth for at least six months and up to a year. Early removal can result in a relapse of the expansion. Even after the palate has been expanded, your orthodontist will leave a palatal expander in place.
WHY WOULD YOU NEED A PALATE EXPANDER?
It is used to expand the bone so that all of the permanent teeth can fit and to correct discrepancies between the upper and lower jaws so that the top and bottom teeth come together correctly. A palate expander can help create a wider, more aesthetic smile and address functional issues.
HOW MANY TIMES MUST A PALATE EXPANDER BE TURNED?
Twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, turn your palatal expander. A new keyhole will appear at each turn. The turn is complete if you see the keyhole. Because the palatal expander moves the bone, you will feel pressure beneath and between your eyes.
