Is this still possible with adults? | Palatal expansion – You should know this!

Is this still possible with adults?

In principle, palatal expansion is also possible in adults, but it is more difficult and protracted than in children who have not yet finished growing. In adults, the growth plate in the middle of the upper jaw, the so-called sutura palatina mediana, is already ossified.Therefore, it must first be surgically weakened to allow movement of the upper jaw and thus widening. If the weakening alone is not sufficient, a LeFort – 1 osteotomy is connected and the upper jaw is widened with a Hyrax screw. Furthermore, the osteotomy can also be combined with a distraction screw, if not so much load should be put on the upper teeth.

What is the alternative to palatal expansion?

Alternatives to palatal expansion are hardly available, since the concept always leads to the target model by widening the upper jaw. A removable appliance can be used to widen the palate, but this only works in children who have not yet completed their growth. This means that surgical palatal expansion is hardly ever necessary in children. Furthermore, the fixed palatal expansion appliance is the most frequently used variant, which achieves a success in a very short time and, also in combination with the surgical weakening of the growth plate in adult dentition, also achieves a positive therapeutic result. The treatment in adults usually takes longer due to the surgical component.

Costs of palatal expansion

The costs for a palatal suture extension depend on the individual case, the size of the defect and the planned therapy. While children can usually only be treated with a removable appliance, whereby the therapy costs about 500 to 1000 Euros, an adult treatment with surgery can exceed 5000 Euros. Since orthodontics is a purely private service for adults, it is usually only half as expensive for children and adolescents up to the age of 18 or is covered completely by health insurance. For an exact cost clarification, consultation with the treating orthodontist and the health insurance company is necessary, they usually prepare a cost estimate.