When you have an overbite, it’s not just your teeth that are affected. There are several different parts of your mouth that can be involved in an overbite and need to be treated if you want to stop being self-conscious of your smile or just get the bite corrected so that you can chew properly. One of the least common options that many people don’t know about is the palatal expander, which helps with opening up the soft palate at the back of your mouth. Read on to learn more about this treatment method, how it works, and whether it’s right for you.
What Is An Appropriate Palate Expander For Adults?
In adults, an appropriate palatal expander is one that has been individually fitted. This means it will have small screws placed at specific points in order to gradually widen your palate expander for adults. This should be done by a professional in your area who can properly assess how wide your palate should be and prescribe a treatment plan accordingly. The standard range for a child is to go from two millimeters per week to 10 millimeters per week while adults are more likely to go from three millimeters per week to five millimeters per week.
How Does A Palatal Expander Work?
Your palate is made up of a few different bones that are held together with ligaments. The palatal expander fits over these bones to slowly expand them apart and widen your palate over time. Typically, you will wear it for 20 minutes a day until you reach your desired expansion. If you’re unsure how long it will take, be sure to ask your dentist or orthodontist for more details on their specific plan. At a minimum, though, you can expect to wear it anywhere from 6-9 months before noticing any significant changes in your bite. It’s important to note that even if your bite isn’t corrected immediately after using an expander, you should still see improvements in chewing and swallowing over time.
Why Does My Child Need A Palate Expander?
Most children are born with a thick palate. The roof of their mouth extends from behind their nose and up to or over their front teeth. To allow for proper speech development, a thinning process must occur in most cases. This is done by adding pressure (and sometimes pain) to an upper molar tooth on each side of your child’s mouth. This process can be achieved in several ways depending on your child’s unique situation and can vary greatly in length of time, so rest assured that you will be given ample time to talk with both your dentist and orthodontist prior to starting treatment so you fully understand what you are getting into!
What Is The Best Age To Get A Palate Expander?
Getting a palate expander is a non-invasive, in office procedure. The best age to get your child an expander depends on what stage they are at developmentally, as well as their willingness to cooperate. Your orthodontist will be able to determine if they’re old enough and ready for a palate expander. In general, you should start getting your palatal expanders between 6 and 8 years of age. This can vary though depending on your child’s maturity level and their willingness to cooperate with taking their inserts out when necessary. If you have any further questions about how old is too old for palatal expanders don’t hesitate to call our office!
How Long Does A Palatal Expander Stay In?
A palatal expander, also called a mouth stretcher, is a device that widens your jaw by exerting outward pressure on it. The palatal expander you choose will depend largely on how severe your case of narrow maxilla (i.e., your underbite) is. Because wearing a mouthpiece for too long can cause some pretty serious problems in its own right, it’s usually recommended that you use one for only 10-15 minutes at a time and take frequent breaks to let your jaw muscles rest. It may take anywhere from 2-6 months to notice any significant changes; if you start to see results sooner than that, then be sure to consult with an orthodontist or dental professional immediately—you could potentially have braces, too!
Does A Palatal Expander Hurt?
The short answer is no. Usually, a palatal expander is made from stainless steel and comes in 0.25mm or 0.5mm increments. Many people who wear a palatal expander use it as part of their treatment for a cleft palate or other malformations of their mouth, such as ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) or overbites that require surgery to correct, among others. There are also those who use a palatal expander to help improve issues with speech clarity that may be caused by dentofacial deformities like an open bite or recessed jawbone structure.
What To Expect When Wearing An Mouth Expander?
An oral expander is a small piece of metal that fits over one’s teeth. This is attached to a metal wire, and in turn, attached to an upper or lower clasp which can be adjusted over time to slowly expand your jaw. This expansion will widen spaces in your mouth (such as between your front teeth) which can help reduce crowding issues that may occur when there isn’t enough room for all of your teeth to fit comfortably. An expander can also be used for cosmetic reasons or even preventative reasons such as preventing tooth decay caused by an overcrowded mouth. The device is worn overnight on average 3-4 hours per day while you sleep so it can reset itself each day and continue with expanding.
What Are Mouth Expanders Used For?
Mouth expanders are removable devices that gently stretch the mouth and aid in developing an overbite. Most patients who use mouth expanders are children who need to develop their jaws. But they can also be used by adults. Mouth expander therapy is most often prescribed. After a baby tooth has been lost early and replaced with an adult tooth. For example, baby teeth are often lost to decay or trauma before falling out naturally. So if a permanent tooth replaces it prematurely (before losing completely), there may not be enough room for it in your mouth. As with all orthodontic appliances, your dentist will decide whether to fit you with a mouth expander based on his or her evaluation of your needs.
