ProviderMaking Room for Healthy Oral Development
Palatal expansion treatment can be an ideal way to widen a narrow upper jaw, providing teeth with the room they need to grow into their correct positions.
In children, the upper jaw consists of two sides connected by a soft spot in between them. This soft spot runs right down the middle of the upper jaw, allowing it to widen as the mouth grows and develops.
Beginning the palatal expansion process while a child's mouth is still growing helps circumvent or minimize the development of jaw and teeth misalignments. In turn, this can shorten treatment duration with braces or clear aligners in later years.
In some cases, it can also help the child eat, breathe, and speak more easily.
The Importance of Early Orthodontics for Kids
Children with developing orthodontic issues often benefit from early orthodontic intervention to prevent or reduce the need for more extensive treatment later in life. Palatal expansion may be part of your child's early orthodontic treatment at Karl Orthodontics.
How Palatal Expanders Work
A child's palatal bones continue to grow until puberty, making the years between five and 11 the ideal time to detect and treat a narrow upper jaw.
Palatal expanders are custom-made metal appliances that gradually widen the bones that form the palate, creating more space in your child's mouth as the jaw develops and adult teeth emerge.
Palatal expanders are typically fixed in place until the completion of Phase 1 treatment. Parents simply turn the expander at prescribed intervals with a small key to gently expand the palate by ¼ mm with each turn, gently and gradually increasing the width of the upper jaw to accommodate growth.