Palatal Expander (RPE)

Palatal ExpanderThe palatal expander "expands" (widens) the upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made.

We don't have to use palatal expanders as much as we have in the past. The Damon system typically allows us to achieve enough expansion of the arches using much less force. There are, however, time where one is needed. An example would be a crossbite in a young child (7-10) that is causing the jaw to shift to one side. This can cause the lower jaw to grow more on one side than the other and can be very difficult to correct later.Crossbite with shift of lower jaw

If Dr. Gray recommends an expander, it is typically placed for 4-6 months. Sometimes, it is placed with braces on the front teeth at the same time. When you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent relapse.