How does a palate expander work?

Appliance to widen : A palatal expander is a removable or cemented appliance that skeletally widens the palate. It is designed for children before their reach skeletal maturity who have narrow palates and cross bites of their teeth.

Pressure: The appliance that is used places pressure on the maxillary bones and separates them before they fuse. This widens the arch, helps correct cross-bites, and facilitates orthodontic treatment.

Work on Children: Palete expanders are designed to work on children before their jaw bones are fully developed and harden. Their bones are soft, the expander is able manipulate the upper jaw bone, before the upper bones fully formed. If you miss the window of opportunity, as an adult, you would need to do it via surgery.

Widens upper arch : The expander is attached to the upper posterior teeth and crosses the top of mouth from one side to the other. There is a small gear centered on palate that is adjusted with a small key to spread the teeth and bones apart. There is a suture line between the bones of the palate that opens widening the upper jaw. This will make more room for teeth and correct cross bite.

Widening your arch: Best to widen the intermolar distance to treat posterior crossbites. As you activate the appliance by turning a dial screw, pressure applied to two halves, palatal suture is disrupted, allow for translational movement and tipping movement of molars, resulting in widening of the arch, lower the palatal vault, and increase the airway volume to treat oxygen deficiency.

Skeletal distraction: Palatal expander designed to put pressure on the 2 halves of the upper jaw to allow them to be pushed apart, then bone fills back into the expanded spaces. In adults, where the 2 halves of the upper jaw have fused, limited oral surgery is require to disconnect the 2 halves to then allow the expander to work. There are many types of expanders, depending on your need.