How long does palatal expansion take

If an RPE is removed too early, some of the width gained could be lost. During expansion, a space may develop between the two front teeth. This is normal and when you stop turning the RPE, the teeth will start to come together again on their own.

After the expander is turned you may feel pressure in the area of the teeth, and tingling around the bridge of the nose or under your eyes. The sensation generally lasts for about 5 minutes and then dissipates.

That is why we often recommend a turn made in the morning and a turn in the evening to keep the patient comfortable. The two most common problems that can arise when having an RPE is that food can become trapped between the expander and the roof of the mouth or difficulty making the activation turn.

When the expander is placed, we show you how to clean around it. However, if food does get stuck, you can swish or gargle with water, or take a cotton swab and gently wipe the palate of the mouth. The other problem that can arise is not making a complete turn. Sometimes, you think you made the complete turn and then remove the key. It appears as if the turn was completed successfully, but when you go to make another turn the key will not go into the new hole.

You will then have to return to the previous hole which is located towards the back of the mouth, insert key and complete the turn. See video below. Still keep your scheduled appointment to check the expansion. We can always make up a turn in office, or you can add it on another day. However, please call us at if you cannot complete the prescribed number of turns because you are having trouble. Palate expanders are also used to correct crossbites. A crossbite is a type of dental malocclusion that causes the upper teeth to sit inside the lower teeth.

If left untreated, crossbites can cause complications such as:. Palate expanders have two halves that are attached to the top back molars on both sides of the jaw. The halves are typically connected together by a screw, which sits high up in the middle of the mouth.

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 typically lasts around 5 minutes before dissipating completely. Just like braces , palate expanders take some getting used to.

For a few days, you may be overly aware of the sensations caused by speaking, chewing, and swallowing. 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.

Spacing may occur between the front teeth as the upper jaw widens.