The time comes when you finally decide you are ready for braces. You’re prepared for that beautiful, straight, dazzling smile. There is only one problem — your mouth isn’t quite prepared. There is no room for all your teeth! Good news! A palate expander may help.
What is a palate expander, and how can it help your smile? A palate expander is an orthodontic appliance that helps create space for teeth that are crowded and lack room to be positioned correctly.
How do we use a palate expander appliance at Wilson & Hendrickson Orthodontics? We’ll be happy to explain how expanders work!
What Is a Palate Expander?
Sometimes, a patient may have dental issues that need to be addressed before braces or clear aligners are fitted. This is to ensure braces treatment is as successful as possible. We use a variety of dental appliances to help prep patients’ mouths for great braces results.
An orthodontic expander or palate expander is one such orthodontic appliance. This is for individuals with a narrow or underdeveloped upper jaw. This leaves the dental arch — the curve of bone that holds your teeth — too small to fit all your teeth together properly.
In the past, orthodontists would solve a crowded teeth problem by extracting several teeth. Today’s dental appliances make extractions much less necessary, which reduces the pain and damage done by tooth extractions. It’s why orthodontists typically recommend expanders over extractions.
Instead, we insert a metal square with wires attached that wrap around and press against the back molars. A hole in the center of the square allows a metal “key” to be inserted and turned daily. The wires apply gentle pressure against the molars, adding a steady force that moves the teeth outward and widens the palate in the center.
This is the most common type of palate expander; however, several other types are also available.
Types of Palate Expanders
There are various types of palate expanders designed to address different dental issues. The kind you get depends on how much space you need, your age, the condition of your teeth and jaw, and other factors.
Here are the different types of palate expanders:
- Removable palate expander: A metal device similar to a retainer that provides only a small amount of movement. It’s for those who only need slightly more space.
- Rapid palate expander: The most common type, an RPE has wires that fit against the premolars and wrap around the molars to apply pressure. This expander uses a key to widen the jaw by pushing it apart in the center.
- Surgically assisted rapid palate expander (SARPE): Rapid palate expanders that are surgically implanted in the mid-palatal suture, the seam in the middle of the roof of the mouth. It’s usually reserved for moderate to severe cases and for adults whose palates are fully hardened.
- Implant-Supported Palate Expander (ISPE): This is connected to four dental implants instead of using teeth as pressure points. This applies the pressure directly to the jaw and is reserved for teens and adults who have more severe dental issues. These can also be called Maxillary Skeletal Expansion (MSE) or Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palate Expander(MARPE).
Why Do I Need a Palate Expander?
Does every patient need expanders before braces? Definitely not. Only patients with narrow or underdeveloped upper jaws will need a palate expander before braces.
How do we determine if you will need a palate expander? We will figure that out as part of your treatment plan, which we create after your initial examination and consultation. We’ll show you whether you need an expander, how long you’ll wear it, the type of orthodontic expander you’ll wear, and what we expect it to do for your smile.
How Long Will I Wear a Palate Expander?
How long will you wear a palate expander? The expander timeline depends on the severity of your case, how narrow your jaw is and how well you respond to the palate expander.
Children’s palates aren’t completely hardened, so expanders for children and expanders for teens tend to work faster than expanders for adults. That’s because the adult palate is usually hardened and the seam down the center of your palate is fused together.
A palate expander for adults works just as well, but it may take a bit longer. On average, patients wear palate expanders 6-12 months, then they receive their braces.
Do Palate Expanders Hurt?
Palate expanders can look a bit intimidating, and they don’t sound fun to wear. Turning a key daily to push the jaw wider? That has to hurt, right?
It’s not as bad as it sounds! Yes, you will feel some discomfort when the palate expander is first installed. That may last a few days as your jaw gets used to having the palate expander. It should disappear after a few days, and you can alleviate any pain by taking over-the-counter pain medication as directed.
You may experience some discomfort for a short time after the key is turned each day, but this should subside quickly. For the most part, your jaw will get used to having the palate expander, and you’ll be surprised how well it works!
Palate Expander Treatment in Topeka, KS
Palate expanders are one part of your braces treatment, but it goes a long way to creating amazing results. A wider jaw creates more space for your teeth to move into their proper positions with braces or Invisalign.
Do you need a palate expander? Schedule an appointment for orthodontic treatment in Topeka, KS, with Wilson & Hendrickson Orthodontics. Your teeth will be straight and beautiful in no time!
Taking the First Steps
The first step to a better smile is to schedule a free consultation with Wilson & Hendrickson Orthodontics. We’ll be able to provide more information on the best treatment for your individual case and answer any questions you have!
