Some people have an upper jaw that is narrow when compared to their lower jaw.
This can result in a less than ideal bite and in some cases the lower jaw has to be moved to one side in order to produce better contact of the teeth. It’s easier to widen the upper jaw while it is developing at a young age.
Expansion can be achieved by either of the following:
- Rapid maxillary expansion appliance (RME), also known as a rapid palatal expander. This puts a gentle pressure on the upper molars each time an adjustment is made. The expansion helps to widen the narrow upper jaw so that the upper and lower teeth will fit together better. We often use brackets (braces) on the upper front teeth in conjunction with the RME to correct minor crowding problems.
- Removable expansion appliance – Expansion can also be achieved with a removable screw expansion plate, although more patient co-operation is required.