An expander is an orthodontic appliance that widens the upper and/or lower jaw. It's used to make the bone larger in order to fit all of the permanent teeth, as well as to fix discrepancies between the upper and lower jaw so that the top and bottom teeth come together properly. If the jaw is underdeveloped and narrow, it will effect the amount of space in the airway and will lead to sleep disordered breathing.
The idea of widening the jaw can sound kind of terrifying. However, it's actually straightforward and painless. The upper jaw is made up of two distinct halves that don't fuse together until the mid-teen years. By using an expander before this fusion occurs, we're able to gently separate the bones to make the palate wider.
An expander is responsible for facial and jaw correction, while Invisalign or braces will correct tooth positioning.
Photo courtesy of Zaghi MD and The Breathe Institute. No infringement intended.
MYOBRACE®
Fixed expansion
The Super Screw Expander is used to relieve crowding, improve the airway, create more space for the tongue and correct crossbites on the back teeth. It frequently comes with sweep arms behind the front teeth to flare them forward and help with alignment.
The Lower Fixed Schwarz Expander is used to expand the arch and upright the back teeth to help create space to un-crowd the teeth and make space for all the permanent teeth to erupt properly. Finger springs behind the front teeth can be activated to procline and align the teeth as the arch is expanded. It can be worn with an expander on the upper arch at the same time.