Expander how long

When you first receive the expander, you will notice a slight pressure along the roof of your mouth but it should not hurt. This can also happen when adjusting it as well. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort beyond temporary pressure, please let our orthodontists know. It is common for a gap to form. Yet, rarely will the size of the gap between the teeth ever get as large as the distance between the two sides of the orthodontic expander because the teeth start moving back together even before expansion is complete.

Knowing ahead of time that your orthodontic expander will create a gap between the front teeth and that it will subsequently go away on its own is reassuring. Understanding what is normal will keep you from worrying and avoid an unnecessary phone call to our office. A sign that the front teeth are being pulled back together is that they get sore and feel a little loose during expansion for no obvious reason just like when dental braces are moving them.

This indicates that they are being pulled back in place by the elastic fibers in your gum tissue. In fact, it is not uncommon for the gap between the two front teeth to be completely closed by the time the expander is removed. Our orthodontists in Grand Rapids and Grandville, MI , are ready to help you achieve your best smile. Why Orthodontic Expanders Give you that Gap. What is the Purpose of an Expander? 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. Lower expanders can also fix teeth that are crowded or leaning in too much, by spreading out your lower teeth. There will be some discomfort at first, but there will not be a lot of pain.

The expander may feel heavy in your mouth at first, since it is something new and different in there. When the palate expander is widened, you may feel some pressure in your mouth and on your tongue. The pressure may even spread to your eyes and nose, but this will go away after a while. There is some discomfort involved, but do not worry. You will not be in excruciating pain! Typically, weeks. Some patients need longer, but not usually longer than 6 months.

Sometimes the bones in your mouth just take longer to adjust and need time to form. After getting your expander in, your parent will be given a key. This is used to widen the expander at determined times. Your parent will be given specific instructions on how to do this. There are diet restrictions when you have an expander in, just like with braces. Avoiding hard foods is important. Expanders can be expensive, before insurance that is.

Insurance will usually cover the entire cost, since teeth expanders are necessary for good dental health. You need to have good hygiene too. With a foreign object in your mouth, there is a higher chance of bacteria getting in. Make sure you take the time to brush your teeth and frequently clean your expander. Some side effects include producing extra saliva, headaches, or having difficulty speaking. These are of course temporary and disappear as you adjust. That was everything you need to know about teeth expanders!

They are an important part of straightening out adolescents teeth and set up the mouth to grow in healthy, new teeth. There is little pain involved in this treatment and the process normally does not take a long time. You can be comfortable knowing that soon your mouth will have room for all the teeth you need.

One of top orthdontists in the Central NJ area, Dr. Yana V. Thank you for your cooperation! A rapid palatal expander RPE is a specially made appliance used to widen the two halves of the top jaw, also known as the palate or maxilla. The RPE is attached to the upper back teeth and eases the suture apart, which makes the jaw wider.

As the jaw expands, new bone fills in between the two halves of the palate. An expander has many benefits. It can widen the upper arch so that the upper teeth fit better with the lower teeth, creating a better bite. Also widening the palate can make room for crowded teeth to align, which can often prevent the need for extraction of permanent teeth.

A high palate and narrow arch may restrict breathing passages. Studies have shown that expanders can widen air passages and result in better breathing. Lastly, expanders contribute to a broader, more attractive smile. Expansion is easiest and results are most stable when performed on a growing child or teen. Activation of an expander is usually done by a parent, guardian, or someone other than the patient. On the day the expander is placed, we give you a key that inserts into an opening in the activation portion of the RPE.

It is easiest to have the patient lie down on a bed or couch where there is good light. Then, the patient tilts their head back so that the RPE can be seen clearly with the arrows pointing in the direction of the turn.

The key is inserted into the top hole visible until it is firmly in place. Note that when the key is fully inserted, the bend in center of the key is no longer visible.