Rapid Palatal Expander

The purpose of the rapid palatal expander (RPE) appliance is to widen the upper jaw to uncrowd the teeth and broaden the smile.

Instructions: The expander should be turned once every morning and night. If you miss a turn it can be turned twice the next time. You can clean the expander with a toothbrush or by rinsing vigorously. You may use a pipe cleaner to get underneath the expander. The RPE remains in place for approximately about 10 weeks.

Concerns: One of the major effects of this appliance is a large space between the front teeth (seen at right). This is OK, and actually tells us that the appliance is working properly. The space should go away in about a month. Other possible side effects are soreness around the bridge of the nose, cheeks, or roof of the mouth. You may even hear a crack or pop when turning the appliance. These are all OK.