Can the orthodontist widen the jaw of a 20 year old?

Sure: If you are referring to having maxillary hypoplasia/arch width discrepancy, then orthodontics along with a sarpe - surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon would work well. Typically by your age the suture lines in the bony palate are fused and need "help" to be separated so that the orthodontist can manipulate arch width without tipping teeth.

Yes, with help: At 20 years old, your jaws are done growing. Widening an upper jaw will likely require surgical assistance to accomplish. You will wear braces to align your teeth as the upper is made wider through a combination of surgical assisted maxillary expansion. This procedure is tried and true over many years.

Yes, teeth only: Your jaw bones will not widen once you are done growing. But if your teeth "lean in" alot towards your tongue they could be widened to a more upright position and that could give you a broader smile.

Yes, but: When growth is done this can be accomplished with an oral-maxillo-facial surgeon, and then only if there is a cross bite. It is possible, but not conventionally. Be careful as some dr's say they can expand the bone at this age, it has not been borne out. Good luck!

Yes: We have had success widening jaws of patients well into their 20's. We know this is "unconventional", but the proof is in the results and some of our results with patients your age have been amazing!

A broader smile: Widening jaws in adults is extremely limited. However, modern orthodontic appliances (braces or invisalign) are exceptional at uprighting collapsed teeth (and thus collapsed arches) and developing arches to create a broad, attractive smile.

A qualified yes: Jaw widening in non-growing adults requires jaw surgery if there is a true transverse boney mal-relationship. If teeth tipped inward they can be uprighted non-surgically, but if bone to small and sutures have fused surgically assisted expansion will be required. Talk to a qualified Orthodontic Specialist as your first step.