The Benefit of Starting Your Child’s Journey Early
A major benefit of starting a smile journey in childhood is that we can use your youngster's own natural growth to correct or even prevent "bad bites" (malocclusions). A palatal expander is a wonderful tool designed to help us do exactly that!
A palatal expander creates more space in your child’s mouth by gently widening the upper jaw. While this might sound intense, it's actually quite easy! That’s because your child’s upper jaw is made of two separate, soft halves that don't fully join together until after puberty. Before that happens, we can gently guide them apart and stabilize the new width over a few months.
When an Expander Can Help Most:
- Crossbite: This happens when the upper jaw is too narrow, causing the back top teeth to bite inside the lower teeth. Widening the upper jaw fixes this alignment problem.
- Crowding: Even before all permanent teeth come in, we can see if there won't be enough room for them. Widening the jaw can create that needed space without us having to remove permanent teeth (extractions).
- Impacted Teeth: If a permanent tooth (often the canine or "eye teeth") is blocked and can't come through the gums on its own, widening the upper jaw can open the pathway and allow it to erupt into the proper position.
Beyond the Bite: Other Benefits
Expanding the upper jaw does more than just align the teeth! It can also:
- Broaden the smile in an aesthetically pleasing way.
- Improve breathing.
- Shortening the overall time your child will need to wear braces later.
How Expanders Work Together With Growth
An expander is custom-made for each child and fits over several top teeth in the back of the mouth. The appliance has two halves connected in the middle by a screw.
To activate the device, you simply turn the screw a very small amount each day with a special key. This gentle tension slowly encourages the two palatal bones to move apart. Once the desired width is achieved, we leave the appliance in place for a few extra months to ensure the new bone forms and stabilizes the expansion. They are typically worn for 3-6 months altogether.
Edney Orthodontics Reviews
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My son has to have Phase 1 treatment - he has been nervous about the whole process but everyone at Edney has been so welcoming and kind to him it has made the process much easier! We use the Columbus office and are so impressed with the staff!
Great staff and very informative!
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What to Expect So You Can Feel Comfortable
- Temporary Pressure: There may be some soreness or a feeling of pressure for just a few minutes after the key is turned. This actually causes less discomfort than having braces tightened!
- Initial Adjustments: Your child may find that speaking and eating feels different at first as the tongue adjusts to the presence of the appliance.
- A Welcome Gap: It is completely normal — and actually a great sign — to see a temporary gap develop between the front teeth. This shows that the expander is having the desired effect!
When all is said and done, your child's permanent teeth will be beautifully aligned! We’re here for you every step of the way to ensure a smooth, gentle journey.
