Palatal Expanders

A palatal expander is an appliance fitted to the upper teeth that widens a narrow upper jaw a small amount at a time. Because the two halves of the upper jaw are still joined by a growth seam in childhood and early adolescence, widening it then is straightforward — which is why Dr. Aesha Chaudhry watches for it early at Crystal Clear Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry in Wilmington.

What It Corrects

Crossbite — where the upper teeth sit inside the lower ones instead of over them, usually because the upper jaw is too narrow.
Crowding — widening the arch can create room for teeth that would otherwise have nowhere to come in.
Blocked teeth — extra width can let a tooth erupt on its own that would otherwise have been trapped.

How Treatment Goes

The expander is adjusted in very small increments on a schedule set at the fitting, and then left in place while the new width becomes stable. Speech and eating feel different for the first few days and then settle.

This content is for general information only and isn't dental or medical advice. Talk with your dentist or orthodontist about your own situation. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.