Removable Appliance Therapy

Palatal expanders are frequently used in orthodontic therapy to treat a narrow palate.  Palatal expanders come in two types; fixed and removable.  The fixed expanders can be used to achieve rapid palatal orthopedic expansion on a child and a slower more limited dental expansion on an older teenage or an adult in many cases.  When the goal is to achieve rapid palatal expansion (RPE) it should be performed ideally between ages 8-12 to achieve a more predictable/stable result.  Because of this limited window of opportunity, it is important to evaluate your child's jaw relationship early.

Removable expanders, similar to slow expanding fixed expanders, are used primarily to achieve dental expansion and not orthopedic expansion.  Removable expanders may be used in both kids and adults to treat slight crossbites or minor crowding.