Pediatric Expansion

What Is Pediatric Expansion?

Pediatric expansion is a treatment that widens the jaws to create more space in the mouth. It’s often done between the ages of 6 and 10, while your child’s bones are still developing and most responsive to change. We utilize both upper and lower expanders at Braces520, although their mechanism of action is different.

We use comfortable, custom-made appliances to gradually expand the jaws, which are slowly expanded over a period of a few months. It’s a painless process, and most kids adapt very quickly. We notice that about 50% of our patients age 6-10 experience no discomfort at all from expanders, and the other half may experience some gentle pressure the first few days which then subsides.

We specialize in early expansion at Braces520, and as such, we are one of the first practices in the country to fully utilize 3D Printed Expanders for maximum comfort, easy placement and removal, and improved hygiene.

Many other offices use expanders that are anchored by large circular “bands” that are shoved down between the teeth and beneath the gums. They are painful to place, hard to keep clean and can easily cause gum infections. Placing those types of expanders typically takes 4-5 appointments to place separators, fit bands, take impressions, then place the expander.

At Braces520, our 3D printed expanders are custom made to fit perfectly right on top of your child’s teeth, right from a digital scan taken at your consult appointment. Since it just sits on top like a custom little hat, it isn’t forced between the teeth or pushed beneath the gums and only requires one appointment. We strongly believe in keeping things as simple and comfortable as possible for both patients and parents, and 3D printed expanders are just one way we do that.

Why Would My Child Need Expansion?

You might not notice it at first, but many children have jaws that are too narrow — and it can affect much more than just their smile.

Common signs your child might benefit from expansion:

• Crowded baby teeth or adult teeth
• Narrow looking jaws or smile
• Crossbite or underbite
• Mouth breathing or snoring at night
• Speech issues or lisping
• Frequent ear infections or allergies
• A history of thumb sucking or pacifier use
• Grinding or clenching teeth during sleep

By creating more space, expansion can help guide proper jaw growth, improve breathing, and even reduce the need for tooth extractions later on.

Upper vs. Lower Expanders

As mentioned, we use both upper and lower expanders, but the way they work is different due to how the jaws grow and develop. As such, lower expanders are typically only useful for patients age 6-11. Older than that, braces can work to widen the lower arch just the same.

On the upper jaw (the maxilla), the expander widens the entire jaw bone, with new bone forming in the middle. This is possible because the upper jaw has a cartilage suture or growth plate down the middle that can be gently stretched to cause new bone formation. Upper jaw expansion happens very quickly, usually taking no more than 2-4 weeks to complete.

On the lower jaw (the mandible), the expander works by expanding the teeth and the alveolar bone holding the teeth, widening the dental arch. The entire mandibular jaw bone cannot be expanded like the upper can, as it has no cartilage suture to stretch. Lower expanders work through a similar principle as lower braces and wires, but they are easier to place and tolerate than braces for young kids. For that reason, we utilize lower expanders in our early intervention cases for children age 6-11. Lower expanders ensure the lower teeth still fit together with the upper once the upper jaw is expanded. Lower expansion happens much more slowly, typically taking 3-4 months to complete.

Expansion and Airway Health

Narrow jaws often mean narrow airways. That can lead to snoring, restless sleep, and even sleep apnea. By widening the upper jaw, we also increase space in the nasal passages, allowing for easier breathing and better oxygen flow during sleep. This may seem strange, but the roof of the mouth is actually the same bone as the floor of the nose- so as the upper jaw bone is expanded, inside the nasal airways expand as well, leading to less resistance to airflow.

At Braces520, we’re the top orthodontic team in Southern Arizona who specialize in airway-focused care. We understand the relationship between jaw development, tongue posture, and airway health — and we use this knowledge to treat the whole child, not just the teeth.

What’s the Right Age for Expansion?

Every child grows at their own pace, but the optimal time for expansion is usually between ages 6 and 10, before the bones fuse and growth slows down. The jaws are very “stretchy” at this age, allowing us to make big changes when we see big problems brewing. Normal expansion can be successful until age 14-15 (depending on gender and skeletal maturity). However, early intervention is key, and expansion is more successful the younger you start. If your child is older than 15 and needs expansion, we have other specialty treatment modalities we can employ such as the MSE appliance.

We offer free new patient consultations to evaluate your child’s growth and determine whether expansion would be helpful now — or if it’s better to wait and monitor development over time. We are firm believers in being conservative but proactive —  we will never recommend treatment unless we think there is is a clear benefit to your child, but we do not hesitate to take action if we see there are issues developing.

Why Braces520?

• We’re the top Airway-Focused Orthodontists in Southern Arizona, and the only ones who are members of the Tucson Airway Providers group.
• We treat hundreds of patients per year with expanders- more than any office in town.
• We utilize Metal 3D printed expanders- the latest technology for the ultimate patient comfort and ease of hygiene
• We specialize in airway-conscious orthodontics and use expansion to minimize permanent tooth removal
• We are the only providers in the Tucson area using Maxillary Skeletal Expansion (MSE) if your child needs expansion past age 14-15
• We make it easy on parents with flexible scheduling, no-interest payment plans, and 3 convenient locations.
• We charge no additional treatment fees if an expander is indicated

Our team is experienced, gentle, and focused on making every visit a positive one — especially for our youngest patients.

Ready to Learn More?

If you think your child may benefit from expansion, or just want peace of mind about their growth, schedule a free consultation with us today. We’ll guide you every step of the way — from that very first wiggly tooth to a confident, healthy adult smile.