Palatal Expansion Maple Grove

Final Results and Benefits of having the Palatal Expansion Process

During this expansion process, your youngster may find it slightly challenging to speak and eat normally because of the placement of the expander. They will feel the pressure every time the screw or key is turned as well.

Often after a successful palatal expansion you will see a gap between the two front teeth. We will determine if the gap will close naturally or if any additional orthodontic procedures might be necessary to complete the revamping of the jaw alignment and the introduction of a brand-new smile.

Even though the process sounds a bit unnerving it is perfectly safe, a common procedure and it has many benefits. The cross bite will be corrected, the impacted tooth will erupt to save a natural tooth, and the bite pattern will be normal. You will take a huge step in the positive development of your child. Not enough is ever said about the value of our smile and the impact of that smile on our self-esteem and our self-confidence. This is particularly important in the development of a child. With the perception of a nice smile your child will carry and present himself or herself ever so differently.

This also a perfect time to begin good oral hygiene habits for your youngster. We will encourage them to brush their teeth at least twice a day and to do it well. Not to rush like children so often do. We will also show them how to floss their teeth and the benefits of why flossing is important. Palatal expansion is an important first step in heading in the right direction in correcting their life-long smile.

A palatal expander will look just like a retainer that has been cut in half. Anchored to the back teeth, the teeth that Dr. Pan wants to push out ever so slightly, the two halves are connected in the middle with a simple screw. The device is attached to the teeth and then a key is simply used to turn the screw to create the tension to apply the force and pressure necessary to move the back teeth out to the desired position in the jaw.

See how much easier this is when the patient is at a younger age? The growth of the patient is advantageous in accelerating the palatal expansion. Rapid movement might have the patient turning the screw, or key, once a day, and repeating that daily process until the desired expansion has been achieved. Slower expansion can take those advancements to a weekly movement. A lot of this is relative to the level of discomfort the youngster is being subjected to and how much they can tolerate.

When the expansion is finished the expander will need to remain in place for another six months to allow the bones to grow together and not allow the teeth to return to their previous positions.

Your team at Pan Orthodontics, 7830 Main St. in Maple Grove, MN., will make terrific teammates in the oral development of your child. With our guidance and the creation of good oral hygiene habits the youngsters will develop preventative measures for the rest of their lives. Twice a year visits to have consistent, preventative checkups by Pan Orthodontics are an extremely wise thing to do. Call 952-926-3747 to schedule an evaluation to see if your youngster needs to consider a palatal expansion today.