Palatal Expander FAQ

What to expect

The purpose of a palatal expander is to widen the upper jaw by placing tension on the mid-palatal suture. Here are a few things that you may want to know before going through the process:

Does it hurt? In general, no. However there is an initial adjustment period. Upon insertion of the appliance, you may salivate excessively; this usually goes away after the first 24 hours. You may also have difficulty chewing initially, as the metal band that secures it to the teeth props the bite open slightly in the molar region. This usually takes a few days to get used to. We will give you or your parent instructions on how and when to turn the expansion screw on the appliance. When you perform a turn, you may feel pressure on the teeth, roof of the mouth, and sometimes around the nose. On rare occasions, you may feel slight pain on the teeth attached to the band, which lasts no more than 30 minutes. It is also common for a space to open between the two middle front teeth. This is a temporary condition, and the space will eventually close on its own without any intervention, once we are completed with the turns.

It is important to keep the appliance clean, especially where it interfaces with the teeth (usually premolars and molars) and around the gums. If food gets stuck between the middle of the appliance and the roof of the mouth, you should swish with water, gently brush it out, or you may also safely use an oral irrigator (e.g. Waterpik). It is important to avoid foods that are extremely sticky, hard, or tough to chew. Please also avoid gum and popcorn.