Palatal Expander – Palate Expand – Jaw Expansion Braces Appliance

A palatal expander or better known as the rapid palatal expander is used to expand the upper jaw for cases where the lower jaw is not wide enough to sit over the lower jaw.  In most cases an underbite is caused by a smaller upper jaw.

When orthodontists give a patient the palatal expander, the patient is asked to make half a turn usually daily to widen the jaw.  The device continues expands with each turn, thus widening your jaw ever so slightly.

Most patients with the palate expander in place complain of food getting stuck, salivating, and speech impediments.  Though these are all temporary conditions due to the appliance, it can be annoying but is usually never a reason to discontinue treatment.

It will take several days sometimes weeks to get used to the device in the upper mouth.  In most cases patients don’t have to wear the expander too long and can expect braces to soon follow the treatment.

Dental braces are used in conjunction with additional appliance often in practice.  The palatal expander has been around a long time and continues to offer jaw expansion without the use of surgery.  In fact in many cases when an orthodontist tells a client they need jaw surgery, they are overlooking the use of appliances such as the expansion appliance discussed here.