A trip to the orthodontist is not just for middle schoolers anymore. Orthodontists are increasingly understanding the importance of early intervention for proper jaw growth and tooth eruption. One of the many tools in their arsenal is a palate expander, a device that takes advantage of the malleability of children’s growing anatomy to shape the mouth into a healthy orientation. It’s possible your child could experience these five benefits that orthodontist Queen Creek AZ finds their patients experience with a palate expander.
Improves Bite
When the upper part of the jaw is too small, the bite becomes misaligned and molars don’t match up where they’re intended. This is called a crossbite which can impact chewing and future tooth alignment. Expanding the upper jaw will alleviate the problem, saving your child from long-term dental issues.
Allows for Teeth to Come In
Widening the jaw while a child is still young will allow for baby teeth to fall out on schedule as crowded teeth have a harder time being properly expelled. This will also help adult teeth to come in as unimpeded. This saves your child from extractions and oral surgery later and may make future orthodontic work less complicated as well.
Prevents Impacted Molars
Molars are especially vulnerable to overcrowding in the mouth and can become impacted when they don’t have the room to push through the gums. Widening the space in the jaw ensures all of the molars will have somewhere to go when it’s their time to erupt. This is important as new molars come in well into young adulthood.
Alleviates Breathing Problems
By widening the upper jaw, many children experience a switch away from mouth breathing. This is because the shape of the jaw has an impact on the way the airway is structured. Some parents find their children also sleep better and stop snoring or wetting the bed at night because of the newfound ease of breathing.
Promotes Symmetrical Jaw Growth
When the upper and lower jaws do not line up properly, children can begin chewing on only one side as a way to compensate for the disparity. This compounds the problem and the asymmetry eventually becomes more pronounced. A palate expander that fixes the bite can also promote healthy growth of the jaw and corresponding muscles for a more symmetrical smile.
Orthodontics is about more than a great smile. Correcting jaw size and alignment will help teeth come in properly and confer many benefits that go well beyond cosmetic appearance.