How long are expanders left on

Bordentown Braces is a perfect match for you! From this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about teeth expanders. A teeth expander is a device that enlarges your mouth. This creates more room by slowly expanding the jaw. It sounds a little scary, but do not worry! You will need to wear an expander if you have a crossbite.

This is when your upper jaw is narrower than the lower jaw, causing the top back teeth to be inside the lower back teeth. The expander makes room for your teeth and removes the crossbite. Crossbites get confused with underbites often, however, crossbites are when the upper and bottom rows of teeth do not line up with each other.

This can happen when adult teeth grow in before your baby teeth fall out, or you sucked on your thumb a lot as a child. Another reason you might need an expander, is if your teeth are crowded.

This is when your teeth do not have enough room in your mouth. They may overlap or push on each other. Teeth expanders are useful in creating space in your mouth. An orthodontist can tell by looking at your baby teeth if you have enough room for your incoming adult ones. Widening the upper jaw with a palatal expander makes sure your teeth will come in without causing any problems. Teeth are considered impacted when a growing tooth is blocked by other teeth.

Expanders make room for that new tooth to come in. Canines are the most commonly impacted teeth, because of their location in your mouth. Teeth expanders are most effective in a certain window. Children not fully grown can get the most benefit out of expanders, as they can adjust the jaw easier.

The age limit is 12 — 13 for girls and 13 — 14 for boys. Older children can also use expanders, however they may not be as effective. This keeps pressure on both halves of the jawbone, causing them to widen and move apart.

Palate expanders are custom made. The orthodontist will take an impression of the upper jaw and teeth. This impression will be sent to a laboratory, where they will make an expander that fits perfectly to the mouth. There are several types of palate expanders.

Some are removable, and others are designed to remain fixed in the mouth for several months. You and your orthodontist can decide which type is best for you, based on the type of correction required. If only a small amount of jaw widening is needed, your orthodontist may recommend a removable palate expander. There are several different removal brands. Removable palate expanders are meant to be worn 24 hours a day, except while eating, playing sports, and brushing teeth.

They may only need the screw turned two or three times a week instead of daily or twice daily. This fixed palate expander has bands that are designed to fit snugly around individual back molars. These bands are glued into place on the teeth, securing the expander in place. The hyrax has a screw situated in its middle, under the roof of the mouth. You will be given a key to turn this screw, with instructions on how to do it.

This expander is placed into the mouth in a compressed position. This fixed expander is also bonded to the back molars. A screw sits in the middle of an acrylic plate, which expands when adjusted. This puts pressure on the palate and teeth. If you have an expander that requires manual adjusting, your orthodontist will make sure you have a video or written instruction on how to turn the screw. To adjust the palate expander, you insert the key into a small, visible hole in the screw, and rotate toward the back of the mouth.

This rotation causes a new hole to appear. When you adjust your expander, you may feel a slight sensation of pressure along the roof of your mouth or a tingling feeling in your teeth. This sensation may extend upward to your nose or eyes. It expands the palate to make room for crowded teeth. Keeping your teeth and gums clean and your appliance clean will be your most important jobs while you wear the palatal expander. These things are important because:. This palatal expander chart is a guide or calendar to keep track of how many turns you have made in the expander.

Starting on the day the appliance is put on, turn the expander twice a day as instructed. Each time you make the turns, mark it on the chart. For example, the following chart shows you how your calendar will look as you record the turns.

In this example, there were 2 turns on Monday, 2 on Tuesday, 1 on Wednesday, 3 on Thursday and so on. Please bring the completed chart with you to your next appointment. As Downers Grove's community orthodontist, I look forward to helping you and your family :. Posted in Treatment Options. Share Article:. Many young kids are referred to our office by their dentist, and parents are often wondering why we see kids that are 7 to 10 years old. In some cases, there may be a bone size imbalance between the upper and lower jaw, and palatal expanders are a great way to correct these problems to set children up for more balanced growth and tooth eruption as they enter adolescence.

Here are some common questions that I answer on a daily basis about palatal expanders.