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.

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Adjusting the palatal expander

You can also download these instructions in a printable PDF document.

Step 1

In a well-lit area, tip the patient’s head back.

Step 2

Place the key in the hole until it is firmly in place.

Step 3

Push the key toward 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.

Step 4

Press back and down toward the tongue to remove the key. The next hole for insertion of the key should now be visible.

What Our Patients Say

Tom Ladky

16:10 14 Nov 24

In and out quickly and ahead of schedule. Whole team at Arbit is fantastic.

Jena Sanford

23:29 12 Nov 24

Everyone is super nice in the office. My son and daughter has been treated and they teeth look amazing

Earnell

01:01 31 Oct 24

One of the friendliest, professional office environments anywhere. The staff is very warm and caring. And their service is "Simply the Best!"

Mark Meyer

13:43 24 Oct 24

Dr. Arbit is now working with another son. Throughout the visit, he made him laugh, feel comfortable, and explained what was happening in a way that a nine-year-old could understand. He answered questions, and made him look forward to having an expander. The work is excellent, and I always recommend to other parents for them to take their kids to Dr. Arbit.

Jeffrey Koenig

15:57 16 Oct 24

I went to Dr. Arbit for a checkup after having my teeth straightened with braces by his team as a child. He is kind, thoughtful, and knowledgeable about dentistry and teeth. Turns out you should consider toothpaste with fluoride. I would not hesitate to recommend him to friends and family for their braces. 5/5

Valerie Miller

23:24 25 Sep 24

I cannot recommend Dr. Arbit and his team enough. We moved to WI with my daughter in active ortho. I have been a dental professional for many years so it was very important to me that she receive exceptional care in our new home state. Dr. Arbit is the only provider in the area using the same system my daughter was using prior to our move. The transition was flawless. My daughter just got her brackets off. Her teeth look beautiful. I would choose Dr. Arbit and team again in a heartbeat.Thank you to all!!!The MillersCedarburg

Laura Kauzlarich

11:01 20 Aug 24

We LOVE Dr. Arbit!!! His office is so welcoming, he is such a kind and knowledgeable man, I would not go anywhere else. I have been seeing Dr. Arbit for myself and my children for over 14 years. I drive hours for each visit and I wouldn’t change a thing. Not only is the service reasonable, but also innovative! Dr. Arbit truly cares about his patients and their health; so many orthodontics are very aggressive and Dr. Arbit offers a light hand with better results. If you haven’t made an appointment, or if you’re not sure, they offer free consulting and the quality is unbeatable. Also, they have free arcade games to keep you occupied, it’s pretty awesome.

Katherine Kautzer

12:20 16 Jul 24

Dr. Arbit and his team are always attentive to our needs, going beyond standard care to ensure patients of all ages are given the best possible care. His team has been able to make the most complex, daunting orthodontic issues (to a parent), seem simple to solve. The team takes care to explain things to us and we would not trust anyone else to help!!

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