Familiarity with palate expander and its advantages and disadvantages

educational articles

A palate expander is an orthodontic appliance used to expand the palate. Use of the roof of the mouth as well as improve coordination between the jaws becomes.

The device applies a gentle force to the upper space of the mouth and jaws. Increases stepwise. Maybe you have a question, what is a palate expander? In this article, we are going to examine the concept, advantages and disadvantages of this tool.

What is a palatal expander?

A palatal expander is an instrument used to open the upper jaw. The best orthodontics in Mashhad often use this device to solve problems such as crossbite, tooth crowding and other dental diseases are recommended.

The duration of keeping the expander in the patient's mouth, depending on his age and the severity of the situation, may last from a few weeks to a few months and even up to a year. The ultimate goal of using a palate expander is to provide the necessary space for teeth orthodontics, especially in the upper jaw area.

The space resulting from this work causes a more suitable arrangement of the arch of the teeth and the opportunity to move them. Also, palatal expander may be effective in improving patients' breathing, especially during sleep.

Read more » When you plan to have regular teeth using orthodontics, it is necessary to remove some teeth to provide enough space for movement. To learn more about the reason for tooth extraction for orthodontics, we suggest you click on the given link.

What are the types of palate expanders?

Palate expanders are produced in both fixed and movable forms; In the following, we will give a more detailed description of each of their types:

The movable palate expander

If the roof of the mouth is only slightly smaller than the standard size, orthodontists recommend the use of mobile expanders. The patient must use this device throughout the day and night, except when eating, brushing teeth, or exercising, in order to have the necessary effectiveness.

Hyrex Fast Expander

This type of expander is from the family of fixed palatal expanders that are closed around the molars. These tools have a screw that patients can adjust to change the size of the device according to their needs.

Quad Helix tool

This tool, similar to Hyrex's fast expander, is connected to molar teeth. The Quad Helix is so named because it has four small spiral sections, and unlike the previous type, it does not require constant adjustments.

Expander Haas

This expander, like the Hyrex model, has the ability to be adjusted to help expand the space of the roof of the mouth. In addition to the side metal parts, the expander includes 1 middle bead and 2 acrylic cushions on both sides of the middle bead.

What are the benefits and importance of using a palate expander?

Using the palatal expander for orthodontic procedures brings many advantages; In the following, we will examine the most important benefits of expanding the palate.

providing the right atmosphere

This tool, by putting pressure on the upper part of the mouth, provides the necessary space for the teeth to move. This helps to solve the problems caused by the lack of space in the palate and makes it easier to perform other dental treatments.

Improve breathability

Using the widening device in people who suffer from breathing restrictions due to insufficient width of the palate, provides the possibility of improving breathing.

reducing the need to pull teeth

One of the key benefits of using a palate expander is the reduced need for tooth extraction. Sometimes, the orthodontist needs to pull some of the teeth to improve the condition. But with the increase of space in the palate, this problem is greatly reduced.

Prevention of possible problems in the future

Using the palatal expander tool, problems related to the improper size of the palate can be managed at the beginning of orthodontic treatment. By referring to the best orthodontics for children in Mashhad and performing this method, the subsequent treatments such as orthodontics with wiring are done more easily and in a shorter time frame.

What are the disadvantages of using a palate expander?

The age of patients is not considered as a risk factor for the use of this therapeutic device. However, you should consider that this process may require a longer period of time for adults. Because adult bones are fully developed and it takes time to move them.

Disadvantages of using a palatal expander and temporary side effects that can follow include:

feeling of pain or brief discomfort in the teeth and inside the mouth
Creating mild headaches
Excessive salivation that is not controlled
Change in pronunciation of words, especially at the beginning of use

It is possible that some patients will see a gap between the front teeth, which can be corrected during orthodontic treatment.

Another disadvantage of widening the palate is the accumulation of food, waste materials and plaque on it, which can lead to an unpleasant taste or smell in the mouth. To prevent this problem, the device should be cleaned regularly and carefully.

When is the best time to use a palate expander?

Using palatal expander or palate expander devices is more effective when children are growing and before puberty. This period of time is known as the best period of treatment, because with the passage of time and the reduction of the flexibility of the bones, the effectiveness of the treatment methods decreases. The density of the teeth is also not unaffected, but the optimal age to see an orthodontist is usually between 12 and 14 years old.

Last word

A palate expander is a chemical that is added as a solid to other ingredients to enhance them. This increase is due to the increase in volume and volume of materials used in industrial and production processes. Expanders are usually used to increase the density, stability and quality of products.

About the author:

In 1379, I was accepted in the national entrance exam of universities with a distinguished rank (5th rank) in the experimental field and started studying at Mashhad Dental School. During my academic period, I was one of the distinguished students of this faculty and I received many academic awards. And finally, in 2018, by defending my thesis on "The effect of bone growth factor on jaw problems", I managed to obtain a specialized doctorate degree in dentistry and became a member of the country's medical system organization and the World Association of Orthodontic Specialists.