Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Rapid maxillary expansion
Introduction
Editor in Chief: Berna Zorkun DMD [1]
Rapid maxillary expansion is a treatment method for malocclusions. This treatment requires a spesific device called palatal expander. A rapid palatal expander is used for stretching a patient’s upper jaw bone sideward horizontally and forward to accommodate front teeth.
The rapid palatal expander has a dual-joint jack screw with two rocker arms having respectively one end pivotally engaged with two spaced fulcrums and another end engageable with a screw bar. Turning the screw bar will move the rocker arm moving outward to push upper barrel bands mounted on the molar and premolar horizontal outward to expand the upper jaw bone.
There is an elastic means with two ends engaged with the upper and lower barrel bands mounted respectively on the upper and lower molar and premolar.
When patient’s mouth is closed, the elastic means will be compressed to produce a horizontal force to push the upper barrel band forward. Thus the upper jaw bone and the teeth may also receive a constant forward pushing force for expanding purpose.
Educational Videos
Introduction
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Measurement & Preparation
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Placing a Palatal Expander
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Management: RME turns instructions
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Removing a Palatal Expander
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