Palate Expansion

Palate expansion is effective in growing children. The bones in a child's jaw are still developing, and the palate is not yet fully fused, making it easy to expand. The procedure is typically done using a palatal expander, which is a device that fits over the roof of the mouth and applies pressure to the upper jaw, gradually widening it.

Benefits of palate expansion in growing kids:

1 It is non-invasive: The palate expander device is attached to the teeth and does not require any surgical intervention.

2 It is effective: Palate expansion in growing kids is effective in correcting dental issues such as crossbite, crowding, and narrow arches.

3 It promotes healthy jaw growth: By expanding the palate, it creates more space for the teeth to grow into their proper position, without becoming impacted.

Drawbacks of palate expansion in growing kids:

1 Limited age range: Palate expansion is only effective in growing kids whose bones are still developing. Once the bones have fused, palate expansion is no longer effective.

2 Discomfort: The device can cause discomfort, especially during the initial adjustment period.

Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) in adults:

Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) is a procedure that is done on adults who have finished growing. The procedure involves surgically cutting the bone in the palate, effectively re-creating that unfused growth center that children have, and then using a palatal expander to widen the palate.

Benefits of SARPE:

1 Effective in adults: SARPE is effective in correcting dental issues in adults who have finished growing.

2 Faster results: The procedure is typically completed in a shorter time frame than palate expansion in growing kids.

Drawbacks of SARPE:

1 Invasive procedure: SARPE is a surgical procedure that involves cutting the bone in the palate, which can be uncomfortable for the patient.

2 Longer recovery time: SARPE has a longer recovery time compared to palate expansion in growing kids.

Both palate expansion in growing kids and SARPE in adults are effective treatments for correcting narrow maxilla (upper jaw), or a crossbite.