20406 Redwood Road, #F • Castro Valley, CA 94546 • 510.537.4900

Castro Valley Orthodontics

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Palatal Expander

The palatal expander "expands" (or widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. The animation below will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander. When you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.


Palatal Expander Instructions
  1. In a well-lit area tip the patient's head back.
  2. Place the key in the hole until it is firmly in place.
  3. Pushing the key towards the back of the mouth, you will notice the fender will rotate and the new hole will appear. The rotation stops when the key meets the back of the expander.
  4. By pushing back and down towards the tongue, remove the key. The next hole for insertion of the key should now be visible.
Animated Palatal Expander Instructions

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Castro Valley Orthodontics provides quality orthodontics for children, teens, and adults in Castro Valley and the surrounding San Francisco, CA (California) Bay Area. Dr. Susan So specializes in orthodontics, offering clear braces, self-ligating braces and Invisalign and Invisalign Teen invisible braces. Contact Castro Valley Orthodontics to schedule your orthodontic consultation.

Dr. Susan So is committed to providing her patients with the highest level of care, and strives to foster working relationships with Dentists in her area.

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