How long do expanders hurt

Palatal Expansion Pain? What Is a Palate Expander? When is an Orthodontic Expander Needed? Palatal or maxillary expanders have three main purposes which make the expansion of the upper jaw particularly helpful: Crossbite correction. In an ideal mouth, the upper teeth should close over the outside of the lower teeth. Patients who have a narrow palate can experience the upper teeth biting inside the lower teeth.

This issue results in asymmetrical growth of the lower jaw and can cause facial asymmetry when it isn't corrected in a timely manner. Palatal expanders eliminate or reduce overcrowding in the mouth. The expander helps make space for all the upper teeth to erupt in their correct positions. Improve the ability to breathe. This can lead to mouth-breathing, which can cause the inhalation of unfiltered bacteria, dry mouth and halitosis.

Best Age for a Palatal Expander The upper jaw expansion is most successful when it is performed in patients under the age of Are Palatal Expanders Painful? Meet Dr. Pan Orthodontics Philosophy To treat our patients as our families and to treat others as how we want to be treated.

Yu Pan. Latest Technology. 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. The age limits can also vary slightly between children.

If teeth do not have enough room to grow, this may cause other dental issues later on. It is best to catch and correct these problems early in children, so that the expander can be more effective. There are two main types of teeth expanders- one for the upper jaw and one for the lower. An upper jaw expander slowly increases the space in the top of your mouth by expanding your palate. Over time, the palatal expander is widened. After the expander treatment is complete, sometimes there is a gap left between teeth.

This is easily fixed with a retainer. A lower jaw expander works a little differently. There is no cartilage here like there is in your palate, so the expander moves your teeth directly instead. It commonly treats a dental condition known as "cross bite" which is when the top teeth fit inside the bottom teeth.

In some cases, expanders are used to create room for teeth that are stuck or impacted. A palatal expander widens the upper jaw slowly to correct a bone size problem and make room for more teeth. It works by actually pushing the bones apart on the roof of the mouth, and then holds the bones in the new position while solid bone is created on the roof of the mouth. This new bone that forms will stabilize the correction. It make take up to one week to adjust to an expander.

Your child may feel some pressure on the roof of the mouth and on the molar teeth. Your child may also complain that it feels funny to swallow as his or her tongue must adjust to the new appliance.