Can you get a palate expander at 19?

Orthodontists do not recommend palate expanders for adults because jaws and palates fully develop in the early 20s (at the latest). Expanders are most effective when the bone sutures have not fully formed yet.

Do expanders work on adults?

Palatal expanders do not work as well for adults when compared to children or adolescents. This is because the sutures surrounding the upper jaw (maxilla) fuses and calcifies as a child grows older. Once the sutures are fused and completely calcified, the upper jaw can no longer be expanded.

When is it too late for an expander?

For most people, that happens around age 16. At LM Orthodontics, we recommend fitting your child for expanders before the two halves of their palate (the roof of their mouth) have fused together. This is slightly different for everybody and generally happens a little sooner for girls (12-13) than boys (13-14).

Can adults wear palate expander?

For many children, palate expanders help fix a narrow palate and gradually widen the jaw to allow teeth to fit together properly. While palate expanders are typically used to treat orthodontic issues in children, adult patients can also benefit from palate expanders.

Can I get palate expander at 18?

Although the use of an expander is most common in children and adolescents 8-18 years of age, it can also be used in adults, although expansion is slightly more uncomfortable and takes longer.

Can a 17 year old get a palate expander?

Ages Five to Sixteen. After the age of five and up until about sixteen, your child is in the perfect place to reap the most benefits from an expander. At these ages, most of a child’s adult teeth and molars have come in.

Can you get a palate expander after braces?

Once you get older, the expanders don’t work quite as well and they are less comfortable. So, yes, we can expand the shape of the upper arch using braces and Invisalign, but we cannot make the upper jaw (the maxilla) and the two sides wider without using some type of expander.

Does a palate expander hurt?

Palatal expanders do not usually cause pain. Some patients, however, experience difficulty in speaking and swallowing for the first few days of treatment. Following your dentist’s instructions for adjusting your palatal expander will help ensure there is minimal pain and to avoid delays in your treatment plan.

Can I get a palate expander at 16?

Ages Five to Sixteen After the age of five and up until about sixteen, your child is in the perfect place to reap the most benefits from an expander. At these ages, most of a child’s adult teeth and molars have come in. It is preferable that a few adult teeth in the upper jaw have not yet appeared.