Palatal Expansion

Palatal expansion uses a device called a palatal expander, an orthodontic appliance that widens the upper jaw, or maxilla, so that the upper and lower teeth meet together properly. It is a common orthodontic procedure, most often used on children and adolescents between about eight and eighteen years old, though it can be used in adults as well even though expansion is more uncomfortable and takes longer at that age; a patient who does not want to wait the several months an expander needs may instead choose surgical separation of the maxilla. Palatal expansion is usually followed by braces to straighten the teeth once the jaw has been widened, and because it also affects the airway, it can be a useful step for patients who have had previous dental extractions. Expansion therapy works best when started before or during a patient peak growth spurt, since starting it that early produces more skeletal change; started later, after the growth spurt has passed, the same therapy produces more dental change than skeletal change, tipping the back teeth rather than truly widening the jaw.