It’s no easy feat to have one of
the best smiles in Hollywood. The reality TV starlet Kristin Cavallari
attributes her gorgeous smile to routine oral hygiene, the removal of two
impacted wisdom teeth, and having undergone orthodontic treatment. Kristin’s
treatment began in sixth grade when she was fitted with a device Dr. Michael R.
Richards and our team calls a palatal expander, which is used to guide upper
jaw growth in our younger patients.
What is a palatal expander?
A palatal expander “expands” (or
widens) your upper jaw by applying gentle pressure on your top, back teeth. It
helps the top teeth fit better with the bottom teeth, giving you a better
“bite.” In addition, palatal expanders work to create more room for teeth and
promote a broader, more appealing smile!
Do palatal expanders hurt?
Palatal expanders produce very
little discomfort, however, you may experience some difficulty speaking and
swallowing for the first few days. Dr. Michael R. Richards and his team will
give you important instructions on how to take care of your expander so that
your treatment will remain on schedule.
Typically, it takes about a month
to achieve the desired amount of expansion. After Dr. Richards has confirmed
you have the correct amount of expansion, you will keep wearing your expander
for about six months. This allows new bone to fill in and get strong. It is
similar to after breaking an arm and you have to wear a cast to allow the bone
to fill in and harden. Dr. Michael R. Richards and our team at Farr West
Orthodontics are eager to make sure your expander works as well as
possible. If you have any questions
about your expander or your treatment please give us a call. We are in the
office 5 days a week and on weekends Dr. Richards can be reached by calling the
number listed on the office’s voicemail message.