Palate Expander Directions
Palatal expansion corrects the type of irregular bite in which the upper and lower jaws and teeth do not align correctly. An irregular bite can affect your speech and appearance and lead to problems in chewing and biting, according to the American Association of Orthodontics. A palate expander attaches to the upper arch of your teeth and the roof of your mouth to help widen your jaw. Palatal expansion has a higher success rate in children before the completion of their skeletal growth, but adults may use it, too.
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Instructions
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Position yourself in front of a mirror in a bright area, and tilt your head back until you can see the top of your mouth clearly.
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Insert the key into the visible hole in the center of your palate expander until it is firmly in place. Remove your hand from the key. You can tell if the key is in the correct position if it stays in.
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Apply gentle pressure to turn the key toward the back of your throat. Stop when you see the next hole fully appear. You will feel slight pressure in your mouth, nose and cheeks as soon as you complete the rotation.
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Remove the key by pushing it down and back toward your tongue until it comes out of the hole.
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Tips & Warnings
Inspect your palate expander daily to make sure it hasn't come loose.
Follow your orthodontist's instructions on how often you need to activate your palate expander.
Avoid foods that may stick to and loosen your palate expander, such as chewing gum and chewy candy.
Food particles that get stuck in between your palate expander and the roof of your mouth can be irritating. Maintain good oral hygiene by rinsing your mouth with water and flossing after eating.
Take care not to undo a rotation when you remove the key from the appliance.
References
- American Association of Orthodontics; Palatal Expansion; 2007
- "European Journal of Orthodontics"; Quantitative Effects of a Nickel-Titanium Palatal Expander . . . ; Virgilio F. Ferrario, et al.; 2003
- Colgate: Orthodontics: Braces and More
- Braces Questions; How to Turn a Palatal Expander; Jerome Shuman
Resources
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
