If you have overcrowded teeth or a crossbite, which are common issues in teens and adolescents, an orthodontist might recommend a palatal expander. Often times, once a patient finds out what an expander is, they get a little scared. These appliances require the patient or a parent to turn the expander themselves, which can feel a little daunting at first.
When someone has a crossbite or overcrowded teeth, it’s necessary to expand the arch of the mouth. The expander is attached to the upper arch of the mouth using rubber bands that are placed around the teeth or bonded to them with plastic. (Although removable expanders do exist, the fixed ones tend to be more effective -- and much more difficult to lose!)
It’s Not So Bad!
Although any orthodontic treatment will have some initial discomfort (and expanders are no exception), the expansion of the upper arch is usually quite painless. You may experience some pressure in the roof of your mouth, behind the nose, or between your eyes while your expander activates. However, in a few minutes, you’ll feel back to normal!
For the first few days wearing your expander, you also might speak differently or “slurp” a bit due to some extra saliva that might be produced. You might also notice a space opening between your upper central incisors -- this is exactly what we want! When your treatment is over and the expander is removed, this space might close again on its own -- this is fine. As long as the underlying bone remains expanded, you’ll be fine. Finally, after treatment, you may experience a “loose” or “sore” sensation in your front teeth -- again, this is completely safe and normal.
Adjusting to...Well, Adjusting
When you first get an expander, taking some key preparation steps can go a long way. When you go grocery shopping, find some foods that don’t need to be chewed much: yogurt, pudding, mashed potatoes, and ice cream are all great options. After two or three days after installation of the expander, a normal diet should be fine. However, particularly hard or sticky foods should still probably be avoided -- they tend to get stuck in the expansion screw.
Finally, we’d also like to mention that each patient’s expansion treatment will be slightly different. Some palates need to be over-expanded -- that’s why the initial appointment is so important. After treatment is complete, you’ll have to wear a retainer to stabilize the results.
Learn more about orthodontic treatment options in North Hills and Greater Pittsburgh Area!
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