Dental palate expanders
What is a dental expander?
When there’s not enough room in a child’s mouth, orthodontic issues ranging from overcrowding to impacted teeth can occur. An orthodontic expander can correct this problem before your child’s jaw stops growing. Here at James River Orthodontics, we offer this orthodontic treatment to prevent these issues and help patients achieve a beautiful, healthy smile.
As it develops, a child’s upper jaw is divided into two halves that will eventually fuse together. A custom dental expander is designed to take advantage of this growth process and create more space in your mouth before your jaw fuses.
Dental expanders are usually worn before orthodontic treatments such as braces and are secured to the child’s top teeth. Palate expanders are usually only worn for a few months, but during this time, they can help your jaw expand enough to treat many common orthodontic issues. As it’s worn and widened, the expander will increase the space in your mouth, helping your teeth come in straighter.
What issues can a palate expander fix?
Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when the upper jaw is smaller than the lower jaw, which causes the top teeth to bite inside the lower teeth. A palate expander can help correct this alignment issue, preventing grinding and uneven teeth.
Impacted teeth
When there’s not enough room for a tooth to grow in, it won’t be able to erupt properly and can become impacted. This issue is most common with eyeteeth or canines.
Overcrowding
Similarly, if a child’s mouth is too small, it can lead to overcrowding. Teeth can become overlapped and displaced, making it challenging to do daily tasks like eating.
Do dental expanders hurt?
Wearing a dental expander is relatively painless because these devices are worn while the jaw is still growing. Children may experience some discomfort in their mouth, teeth, cheeks, or nose whenever the expander is widened, but this sensation will quickly disappear.
While they are getting used to the upper jaw expander, some children may also find it a little harder to speak and eat.
Caring for your expander
To ensure good oral hygiene, you should care for your expander daily. After eating, rinse out your mouth with some water to remove stray food particles. You should also gently brush your expander to keep it clean and free from bacteria.
Why you should choose James River Orthodontics
James River Orthodontics has been meeting the needs of patients throughout the Greater Richmond, Virginia, area for years. We are dedicated to offering premier orthodontic care and holding ourselves to the highest standards.
No matter what a child’s orthodontic needs are, we take the time to explain every step of the dental expander process so that you always know what to expect.
At James River Orthodontics in Richmond and Mechanicsville, Virginia, we are committed to helping every patient achieve a beautiful new smile. During your initial consultation, we’ll explain our orthodontic options and flexible payment options.
