Dental Implants versus Dentures: Making an Informed Choice

You should already know about braces and retainers, but you might not be familiar with palate expanders. Often recommended for younger children, palate expanders are orthodontic tools worn on the roof of the mouth that are used to widen the palate steadily over time. Gentle pressure is applied until the desired results are achieved.

Not every child requires a palate expander, but they can help some young patients avoid certain dental issues further down the line. Here are just four common conditions that a palate expander can help prevent.

1. Impacted Teeth

When a child's palate is too narrow, adult teeth can become impacted. This occurs when there isn't enough space for teeth to grow in, so instead, one will get trapped within the gums and sometimes grow in the wrong direction. This is a problem that can be quite painful to deal with and increase the likelihood of a patient requiring corrective surgery in the future. Using a palate expander can significantly decrease the risk of this happening.

2. Crowded Teeth

Even if there is enough space for all teeth to emerge, limited palatal space can result in overcrowding. When this happens, a child will be more likely to require braces to move their teeth into proper alignment. Additionally, having crowded teeth makes it much harder to brush and floss, which makes tooth decay and gum disease more likely to develop. Widening the palate can provide enough room for all teeth to come in properly.

3. Crossbites

Your child's jaws should align neatly. However, in some cases, the upper and lower teeth will not come together properly when the jaw is shut. This is known as a crossbite, and it's a common complication of a narrow palate. Crossbites can lead to anything from fractured teeth to gum disease, as well as general discomfort around the jaw muscles, but palate expanders can help ensure your child's teeth align properly.

4. Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing often occurs at night. Instead of breathing through the nose, your child will start to breathe through their mouth. This can be a problem for their oral health since the mouth will be dried out, meaning saliva can no longer fight plaque and keep the teeth and gums clean. Since expanding the upper palate can facilitate breathing through the nose, a palate expander can help avoid mouth breathing.

Reach out to your dentist for more information.