Expanders

Improve Your Child’s Everyday Life

Prevent teeth alignment issues
Correct a narrow airway
Help your child sleep more soundly

Expanders are an integral part of orthodontics. I always like to see patients early on. So we like to see people and patients at seven to eight years old and we like to do early treatment.

I only say early treatment if it’s necessary and what our expanders are is they make room for the rest of the adult teeth to grow in. So as a seven or eight year old kid you don’t have all your adult teeth so we like to do expanders to make room for the remaining adult teeth to grow in so that when you come back around 11 or 12 years old all your adult teeth are in and then we can just jump right to braces. So expanders can prevent the future need of orthodontics because we’re creating space for all the adult teeth to line up in a good fashion.

Sometimes the teeth do grow in in a crooked way but then we just do a limited set of braces to straighten out the things that we didn’t correct with the expander. What the expander does it stays on your mouth for six months and what it does it widens the upper jaw and when you widen the upper jaw you create spaces naturally and allows the new teeth to grow in without crowding. Expanders are not painful they’re very comfortable.

Back in the day we used to make the rings that go around the teeth and that used to be discomfort for the patient. Now we scan the patients we make a 3D mold of their teeth. Expanders are 3D printed now on the teeth so I always like to explain it sits on your teeth like a hat so there’s no discomfort with it.

Expanders benefit child breathing because it opens the airway. When you widen the upper jaw it’s actually the floor of the nose so when you widen the upper jaw the floor of the nose opens up and I like to say an increase of airflow will come in. Now does it cure breathing? No I always work hand in hand with the ENT.

So the first question I ask my patients when they come in is how is your breathing? Are they having trouble sleeping at night? Are they snoring? If we see signs of that we like to work hand in hand with our ENT and then we also like to expand our patients with expanders because we know it can enhance the airflow of that patient and we’ve seen a lot of benefits for our patients because not only does it help with sleeping it helps them do better in school because they’re getting a good night’s sleep. A lot of moms actually know about this now because they’re telling me they’re coming in now because they’re telling me their kids are snoring or they’re having trouble breathing or even they’re seeing signs of grinding. When I see these signs I always recommend an expander because when you expand the top of the jaw the floor of the nose opens and the patients will see an increase in airflow.

Now we also like to work hand in hand with our ENT to make sure there’s not any other signs such as you know enlarged tonsils that may be causing less of airflow going in.

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Boost Your Child’s Smile With Expanders in Keego Harbor

Discover a comfortable solution that can help ensure your child’s smile develops correctly. Keego Harbor expanders are custom-made orthodontic devices that gently widen the upper jaw and palate, creating the perfect space for teeth to align naturally. At Profound Orthodontics, we offer expander treatments that can:

Create more room for crowded teeth to move into proper position without extractions
Improve breathing by widening nasal passages and reducing mouth breathing
Enhance facial symmetry and profile by supporting proper jaw development
Reduce the need for extensive orthodontic treatment later in life
Help resolve sleep-breathing issues and reduce snoring
Allow for better tongue positioning, which can improve speech patterns
Improve overall bite alignment and reduce teeth grinding

To see if an expander is right for your child, call us today at (248) 560-6775 to schedule your free consultation. Our friendly team is here to answer all your questions!

Create an Advantage for Your Child

Reduce the Chances They’ll Need Braces

Early treatment with an expander can significantly reduce the chances of your child needing extensive orthodontic care later.

By creating proper space in the jaw while your child is still growing, an expander allows adult teeth to emerge in better positions naturally. This proactive approach often prevents severe crowding issues before they develop.

Think of it as creating a wider road for traffic – when teeth have enough room to come in, they’re less likely to become crooked or overlapped.

Many of our young patients who complete expander treatment end up needing minimal orthodontic correction or none at all in their teen years. This saves both time and money.

Enhance Your Child’s Breathing

Beyond creating space for teeth, expanders can help with several other health issues.

Many parents notice their children breathe more easily through their nose after treatment. Some report better sleep and fewer headaches. Others notice their children snore less after completing expander treatment.

These improvements happen because widening the upper jaw also creates more room in the nasal passages.

The benefits often extend to better eating and speaking too. When the jaw is properly aligned, children typically have an easier time chewing their food and pronouncing certain sounds.

Call Profound Orthodontics today at (248) 560-6775 to schedule a consultation and get more information on expanders in Keego Harbor. You can also make an appointment online.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Expanders

What age is best for expander treatment?

The ideal age for expander treatment is typically between 7 and 13 years old, while the jaw is still growing and more responsive to expansion. However, each child develops differently, so we evaluate each case individually. During your consultation, we’ll examine your child’s growth patterns to determine if the timing is right for treatment.

How do we care for and clean the expander?

Clean your expander thoroughly after each meal using a soft toothbrush and warm water. Avoid sticky foods and hard candies that could damage the appliance. We recommend using a water flosser to remove food particles around the expander. Regular cleaning prevents irritation and ensures the best treatment outcome.

How often do we need to come in for adjustments?

Initially, we’ll see you weekly to ensure the expansion is progressing correctly. Once we establish a good routine, visits typically decrease to every two to three weeks. You’ll learn how to perform simple adjustments at home between visits, and we’re always available if questions arise.

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