Children and teenagers who have crowded teeth due to a narrow maxillary (upper) dental arch, may require some expansion. An expansion appliance is placed on the teeth in the upper jaw to create sufficient spacing. This appliance may be removable (slow maxillary expansion appliance), or it can be cemented in place for more rapid results (rapid maxillary expansion).While braces are ideal for children over ten years old, palatal expansion is often used a few years earlier while the jaw is still developing. These appliances are often used for three to six months and, depending on the type being used, require daily or weekly adjustment.
Dr. Banić