Have you ever heard of a Rapid Palatal Expander, also known as an "RPE"? The palatal expansion appliance is used to widen the upper jaw. This assists in developing space for crowded teeth in the upper jaw, and also widens the upper jaw when a growth discrepancy is present between the upper and lower jaws. The palatal expander is a fixed orthodontic appliance, and is cemented to the teeth. The expansion is accomplished by turning a small key, which is a part of the appliance. The key is turned by the parents. The expander is only worn for a period of approximately 3 months to allow bone to fill in to the expanded area, following which the expander may be removed and replaced with a retainer.
