I was told that my daughter will need upper jaw expansion.. what is that exactly? what is done to her mouth ? how long does is take on average or is it like braces? and is it painful?
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upper jaw expansion
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8 UpVoted this answer
What is palatal expansion?
Palatal expansion is the widening of the upper jaw, and is needed when the upper jaw is smaller than the lower jaw. An appliance is made to fit the palate and is attached to the molar teeth. By activating the appliance through turning, a wider palate is created. This appliance will correct crossbites of the molar teeth and make room for crowded teeth. The palatal expander is cemented into the mouth and is worn for six months. The palatal expansion appliance is most effective in young, growing patients, but can be used effectively until the end of adolescence.
How is the palatal expander adjusted?
Each day, a parent will turn the appliance once. The best time to turn the expander is after dinner, so that it is comfortable before sleeping. You will be given instructions on how to turn the expander at the doctor's office.
What will the appliance feel like after it is turned?
After each turn, the teeth may feel tight or sore. This will last for only 15 to 30 minutes. During the first few days of turning, Tylenol or Advil may be needed. Make sure that each turn is complete, with the new keyhole in view, ready for the next adjustment. Remove the key toward the back of the mouth so you are not "unturning" the appliance.
What else can be expected?
As expansion is taking place, you will notice a space opening between the two upper front teeth and these teeth may be sensitive to pressure. This means that the expander is working properly, as the two parts of the upper jaw are moving apart. This space may get quite large during the first few weeks of expansion. The space will close later, when turning of the expander is complete. Your front teeth may be sensitive and feel slightly loose during expansion. Some soreness on the bridge of the nose may be experienced.
How long will the expander be used?
The expander will be turned once every day for 6 weeks. During this time of activation, you will visit the office every 3 weeks. If you are unable to keep your appointment, stop turning the expander until your next visit. After the initial 6 weeks of expansion, the expander will remain in the mouth for 4 to 6 months. This will allow the upper jaw to stabilize. The expander is not turned during this time period.
Palatal expansion is the widening of the upper jaw, and is needed when the upper jaw is smaller than the lower jaw. An appliance is made to fit the palate and is attached to the molar teeth. By activating the appliance through turning, a wider palate is created. This appliance will correct crossbites of the molar teeth and make room for crowded teeth. The palatal expander is cemented into the mouth and is worn for six months. The palatal expansion appliance is most effective in young, growing patients, but can be used effectively until the end of adolescence.
How is the palatal expander adjusted?
Each day, a parent will turn the appliance once. The best time to turn the expander is after dinner, so that it is comfortable before sleeping. You will be given instructions on how to turn the expander at the doctor's office.
What will the appliance feel like after it is turned?
After each turn, the teeth may feel tight or sore. This will last for only 15 to 30 minutes. During the first few days of turning, Tylenol or Advil may be needed. Make sure that each turn is complete, with the new keyhole in view, ready for the next adjustment. Remove the key toward the back of the mouth so you are not "unturning" the appliance.
What else can be expected?
As expansion is taking place, you will notice a space opening between the two upper front teeth and these teeth may be sensitive to pressure. This means that the expander is working properly, as the two parts of the upper jaw are moving apart. This space may get quite large during the first few weeks of expansion. The space will close later, when turning of the expander is complete. Your front teeth may be sensitive and feel slightly loose during expansion. Some soreness on the bridge of the nose may be experienced.
How long will the expander be used?
The expander will be turned once every day for 6 weeks. During this time of activation, you will visit the office every 3 weeks. If you are unable to keep your appointment, stop turning the expander until your next visit. After the initial 6 weeks of expansion, the expander will remain in the mouth for 4 to 6 months. This will allow the upper jaw to stabilize. The expander is not turned during this time period.
5 UpVoted this answer
A palatal expander is used to widen the upper jaw so that the bottom and upper teeth will fit together better.depending on the amount of correction, it may result in surgical separation of the top jaw. Use of a palatal expander is most often followed by braces to straighten out all the teeth now that room has been created.
Although it may vary from person to person, most usually feel slight pressure on their teeth. As the patient turns the expansion screw using the key, a space develops between the front two teeth. Some may develop a large space while others do not develop a space at all. It usually takes a week or two for one to adjust to eating and speaking after first receiving the rapid palatal expander. Your daughter may experience pain and headaches while wearing palatal expanders and when the screw is turned. She may also feel a sore on her tongue from contact with the expander's metal bars.
Although it may vary from person to person, most usually feel slight pressure on their teeth. As the patient turns the expansion screw using the key, a space develops between the front two teeth. Some may develop a large space while others do not develop a space at all. It usually takes a week or two for one to adjust to eating and speaking after first receiving the rapid palatal expander. Your daughter may experience pain and headaches while wearing palatal expanders and when the screw is turned. She may also feel a sore on her tongue from contact with the expander's metal bars.
3 UpVoted this answer
In a small percentage of the population, the facial skeleton fails to develop appropriately, leading to various skeletal discrepancies. In your child's case, the concern is that the upper jaw (maxilla) has not developed sufficiently in the transverse dimension. Normally, the upper jaw is slightly larger in circumference compared to the lower dentition. When this is not the case, depending on the child's age, either a rapid palatal expansion (RPE) or a surgically-assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) is performed.
The main determinant of whether to perform an RPE vs. SARPE is your child's age. Within the midline of the hard palate lies a suture. This suture houses the necessary cells allowing for expansion of the upper jaw as a child grows, ultimately reaching the dimensions of an adult. In certain children, this suture fails to expand at a rate necessary to align the upper and lower jaws. This suture will close as a child matures. Depending on whether the suture remains open vs closing will determine whether you need a SARPE vs. RPE, and is age-dependent.
Both procedures will effectively increase the transverse dimension of your upper jaw. An appliance, called a distractor, will be placed across the hard palate connecting to either the molars and/or premolars. This device expands at a slow rate corresponding to the rate that bone can regenerate. There will be a visible separation of your front two teeth during this process, which your orthodontist will be able to correct for later. Using a key, the distractor is turned usually 2x per day for a maximum of 1mm of expansion per day. It is a relatively easy maneuver to master, so not to worry.
With regard to your other questions: pain is usually not an issue, it is a little cumbersome. The length of time is variable, depending on the desired amount of expansion. The results will be well worth the time and effort.
Hope this helps!
The main determinant of whether to perform an RPE vs. SARPE is your child's age. Within the midline of the hard palate lies a suture. This suture houses the necessary cells allowing for expansion of the upper jaw as a child grows, ultimately reaching the dimensions of an adult. In certain children, this suture fails to expand at a rate necessary to align the upper and lower jaws. This suture will close as a child matures. Depending on whether the suture remains open vs closing will determine whether you need a SARPE vs. RPE, and is age-dependent.
Both procedures will effectively increase the transverse dimension of your upper jaw. An appliance, called a distractor, will be placed across the hard palate connecting to either the molars and/or premolars. This device expands at a slow rate corresponding to the rate that bone can regenerate. There will be a visible separation of your front two teeth during this process, which your orthodontist will be able to correct for later. Using a key, the distractor is turned usually 2x per day for a maximum of 1mm of expansion per day. It is a relatively easy maneuver to master, so not to worry.
With regard to your other questions: pain is usually not an issue, it is a little cumbersome. The length of time is variable, depending on the desired amount of expansion. The results will be well worth the time and effort.
Hope this helps!
1 UpVoted this answer
If jaw expasion is required, it means that the arch is too narrow to accommodate all the teeth. Usually, an appliance is attached to the upper arch that gradually widens the arch by regular adjustments. Time required depends on the amount space that is needed. The expansion must be done before the sutures (openings) of the skull are closed.
1 UpVoted this answer
palatal expansion is needed when the upper jaw is too narrow or "v" shaped to allow the teeth to register properly with the lower jaw and teeth. It can be done with a device on the palate with a screw device which is supposed to "expand" the upper jaw. However, this type of device often just "tips" the upper teeth making it appear to have been successful when in fact no real expansion has occurred. The palate is best "expanded" with a device like the one mentioned, but with surgical assistance. The results are obtained much more quickly and are more predictable and stable over time. Either way, there is some discomfort, but it is tolerated very well.
1 UpVoted this answer
When we are young, the head and jaw and other bones are growing into place to accommodate the growing body. The head along with the jaw are separated at different
areas called sutures. These sutures along certain areas allow for expansion of the
cranium and of the jaw during growth of the child. In the mouth, where the palate is
found, these sutures allow for continued expansion of bone . Some times the expansion is
not large enough to allow for proper size to accommodate the growing and erupting teeth. An orthodontist is the best source of information regarding when an expander is needed to improve the shape and size of the upper arch. These devices are either placed on the upper teeth on the palate and activated with a special key to adjust the expanding element of the prosthesis. Some expanders are removable, but need to be checked often by the orthodontist. The expanders, over time spread the sutures apart where they are still growing to make more room for new bone. Over time the sutures will move the required distance determined by special x-rays and models taken by the orthodontist. At that point, no additional expansion is done and the expander is left in fora period of time to let the new bone fill in the spaces created by the movement of the sutures. Once the bone has matured, the orthodontist will determine the future course of treatment to straighten the teeth. The only discomfort that might be felt during this process is from the initial pressure placed on the sutures to move them apart. This usually subsidesover time and very little discomfort is experienced.
areas called sutures. These sutures along certain areas allow for expansion of the
cranium and of the jaw during growth of the child. In the mouth, where the palate is
found, these sutures allow for continued expansion of bone . Some times the expansion is
not large enough to allow for proper size to accommodate the growing and erupting teeth. An orthodontist is the best source of information regarding when an expander is needed to improve the shape and size of the upper arch. These devices are either placed on the upper teeth on the palate and activated with a special key to adjust the expanding element of the prosthesis. Some expanders are removable, but need to be checked often by the orthodontist. The expanders, over time spread the sutures apart where they are still growing to make more room for new bone. Over time the sutures will move the required distance determined by special x-rays and models taken by the orthodontist. At that point, no additional expansion is done and the expander is left in fora period of time to let the new bone fill in the spaces created by the movement of the sutures. Once the bone has matured, the orthodontist will determine the future course of treatment to straighten the teeth. The only discomfort that might be felt during this process is from the initial pressure placed on the sutures to move them apart. This usually subsidesover time and very little discomfort is experienced.
Great questions!
Jaw expansion of the upper jaw is required when the upper jaw and therefore the teeth are too narrow to match up well with the lower teeth. Jaw expansion is a great option for younger patients who are still growing and it typically is done in an effort to avoid later surgery to correct the problem. The length of time it takes depends on how much expansion we need but typically the expansion can be completed in 3-6 months. It is no more painful than braces. Any discomfort is temporary and should be overcome by the occasional Tylenol or Motrin.
Jaw expansion of the upper jaw is required when the upper jaw and therefore the teeth are too narrow to match up well with the lower teeth. Jaw expansion is a great option for younger patients who are still growing and it typically is done in an effort to avoid later surgery to correct the problem. The length of time it takes depends on how much expansion we need but typically the expansion can be completed in 3-6 months. It is no more painful than braces. Any discomfort is temporary and should be overcome by the occasional Tylenol or Motrin.
The expander is used to widen the upper jaw. It will make more room for the teeth so that permanent teeth won't need to be extracted. It is also used to correct the width of the upper to jaw to better match the lower jaw.
Typical expanders take 6-9 months to make the correction.
Many expanders are removable, although some are adhered to the teeth.
There is usually little if any discomfort from the expander. It will be awkward for the first few days, but will be easy after that adjustment period.
Typical expanders take 6-9 months to make the correction.
Many expanders are removable, although some are adhered to the teeth.
There is usually little if any discomfort from the expander. It will be awkward for the first few days, but will be easy after that adjustment period.