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Palate Expanders for Children

Palatal expansion gradually creates room in your child's mouth for their teeth to grow in the correct positions. It can reduce the need for more complex orthodontic treatment later in life.

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Benefits of Palatal Expansion for Early Intervention

Palatal expansion treatment uses an orthodontic device to gently expand a narrow upper jaw, providing the teeth with more space as they grow in.

In children, the upper jaw consists of two sides connected by a soft spot in between them. This soft spot runs right down the middle of the upper jaw, allowing it to widen as more teeth erupt and the jaw develops. Palatal expansion can be an effective way to provide the teeth with the space they need if the palate is narrow.

Embarking on the palatal expansion process while a child's mouth is still growing helps circumvent or minimize the development of jaw and teeth misalignments. In turn, this can shorten treatment duration with braces or clear aligners in later years.

In some cases, it can also help the child eat, breathe, and speak more easily.

How Palatal Expanders Work

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The Importance of Early Orthodontics for Kids

Early orthodontic intervention for children as young as seven can help prevent or reduce the need for more extensive treatment later in life. Palatal expansion or braces may be part of your child's early orthodontic treatment at Munk Orthodontics.

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How Palatal Expanders Work

Palatal bones continue to grow until children reach puberty, making the years between five and 11 the ideal time to detect and treat a narrow palate.

Palatal expanders are custom-made, metal appliances that gradually widen the bones that form the palate, creating more space in your child's mouth as the jaw develops and permanent teeth emerge. 

Palatal expanders are usually fixed in place until the completion of Phase 1 treatment. Parents simply turn the expander at prescribed intervals with a small key to gently expand the palate by a ¼ mm with each turn, increasing the width of the upper jaw incrementally to accommodate growth.