Let me first take a moment to explain the key to the expander. The key is designed with this bend right here this is a safety bend. This prevents you from poking the roof of the mouth while you’re doing the turns on the expander.
When you go to insert the key into the expander, insert the key all the way up to this first bend and that’s how you know you’re in the correct position.
Okay, let me show you how to turn the upper expander.
I’m going to show you on a model of real close-up views so that you can see what I’m doing. What you’re going to do is take your key and insert the key into the hole in the forward position. This is the hole towards the front of the mouth. Go ahead and slide the key into the hole until you feel it hit that safety bend. There then you’re going to push back towards the back of the mouth until you see the next hole rotate around into that forward position. That’s one complete turn. When you go to remove the key be sure to pull straight down to remove it and not pull forward to remove it because as you pull forward you can see you’re reversing the turn so instead make sure you pull straight down to remove the key then what you’re going to do is always double-check yourself. Go ahead and take your key and see if you can replace it into that forward hole again. If you can you’ve done a great job turning.
Here’s what it looks like to turn the upper expander in somebody’s mouth. So you’re going to take your key and insert the key into the hole in the forward position or the hole closest to the front of the mouth push all the way back towards the back of the throat. Once you see the next hole visible go ahead and pull straight down on the key to remove it. Then reinsert the key in the hole in the forward position to check your turn to make sure you’ve done one complete turn.
Okay let me show you how to turn the lower expander. Again on a model of a patient’s mouth so you can clearly see what it looks like. You’re going to take the key of the expander and insert the key into the hole that’s visible at the top of the expander. Once the key is all the way into that safety bend, you’re going to push the key back towards the tongue and rotate it around until you see the next hole become visible on the top of the expander. That’s one complete turn so you can go ahead and slide your case straight out towards the tongue to remove it and again double-check yourself by putting the key into the visible hole again to make sure you’ve completed your turn and here’s what it looks like.
To turn the lower expander in somebody’s mouth, find the hole visible at the top of the lower expander insert your key into that hole. Make sure the key drops all the way down into that safety bend. Push back towards the tongue until you see the next hole visible at the top of the expander. Then pull straight back on the key to remove it and double-check your turn by putting the key into the next hole that’s become visible and that’s how you turn expanders. Great job!
To learn more about palatal expanders and how to turn a palatal expander, contact one of our convenient orthodontist locations in Carson City, Dayton, Yerington, Mammoth Lakes or Bishop.
