Palatal Expanders | Widen Narrow Upper Jaw

A palatal expander is an oral device used to widen a narrow upper jaw. This device helps fix a crossbite, overcrowded teeth, and various other dental conditions. This device comfortably fits onto the roof of your mouth, and over time, moves your palate apart.

Although palatal expanders are mostly used for younger children, teenagers and adults can benefit from them as well. Our orthodontist might suggest a palatal expander if you have overlapping teeth, crowded teeth, crooked teeth, impacted teeth, chewing difficulties, or a misaligned bite (overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite).

Because a palatal expander widens the jaw, it can create additional space for your teeth or improve the way your upper and lower teeth fit together.

Types of Palatal Expanders

The roof of your mouth is known as the palate and it has two halves connected by a suture between them. This is where the left and right sides of your palate fuse. A palatal expander will apply steady force on each side of your palate, slowly pushing apart the two halves to widen your jaw. Once your palate widens, new bone will regenerate and fill the void that was created by the palatal expander. There are four types of palatal expanders and your specific needs will determine which is most suitable for you.

• Removable Palatal Expander | This type of palatal expander resembles a retainer, though it is made from chrome rather than acrylic. If you only need to widen your jaw slightly, then our orthodontist will likely recommend a removable palatal expander.
• Rapid Palatal Expander | A rapid palatal expander fits on the roof of your mouth, attaching itself to your upper back teeth to add stability. With a unique palatal expander key that is given to you by our orthodontist, you will turn the small screw found in the middle of the device every day. After some time, this will cause your two palatal bones to move apart and allow the jaw to widen. Rapid palatal expanders can widen your jaw about 0.5 millimeters each day, and the process typically requires 3-to-6-months to attain ideal results.
• Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expander (SARPE) | For moderate to severe cases or adult patients who have fully developed facial bones, a surgically assisted rapid palatal expander could be your solution. Our orthodontist will place this expander into your mid-palatal suture, which is the line that sees the left and right sides of your palate come together. Like rapid palatal expanders, this type of device uses your back upper teeth for support and you will also have to slightly adjust this expander daily.
• Implant-Supported Palatal Expander | An option usually reserved for teenagers and adults, this type of palatal expander applies force to four mini dental implants instead of your teeth. The pressure will directly target your upper jaw and with this type of palatal expander, our orthodontist will work in unison with an oral surgeon or periodontist, who will oversee placing of the dental implants.

When Should A Patient Get A Palatal Expander and How Long Do They Need To Have It?

Patients of all ages can use a palatal expander, but with children, the jawbones are continuously forming and developing. This is why orthodontists generally recommend that children begin wearing a palatal expander when they are 7-to-8-years old. If we can start this process early enough, it can reduce the likelihood that your child will require more invasive procedures as they get older. Desired results are often achieved within 2-to-3-months.

As teenagers and adults already have strong and developed bones, the process could take as long as one year before the palatal expander has a full effect. Every patient's case differs, so it is important to remember that not everyone will need a palatal expander included in their treatment. Speak to our orthodontist and to see which option is best for you.

Factors, such as age and the extent of your condition, will determine the length of time that a palatal expander will need to stay in your mouth. A young child, for example, might only need a month or two to widen their palate, while an adult with fully developed bones might have to keep it in for up to a year or more. Following the palate's expansion to the proper width, our orthodontist will likely keep the device installed for an extra 4-to-6-months to allow your jawbone to fuse and strengthen itself.