Palate Expansion Archives | Dr Shereen Lim

Palate expansion is a very helpful intervention to improve nasal airway in children with chronic nasal obstruction or congestion.

This father shares his family’s experience with their son’s palate expansion.

He had been struggling to breathe through his nose, was snoring, teeth grinding, and had un-restorative sleep. They were reluctant to proceed with nasal surgery proposed by an ENT surgeon.

Their general dentist referred him to us for a second opinion, and we commenced palate expansion.

Both child and parents noticed that he could breathe through his nose, by their first review appointment at the 4 week mark.

Now, at around the 3 month mark, dad was happy to share that these improvements have held. Their whole family has been happy that our patient is sleeping better, focusing better, and is less irritable.

Let’s not overlook the structural contribution of high narrow palate/nasal floor to poor nasal airflow and disturbed breathing during sleep.

Disclaimer:

Any orthodontic procedure carries risk, and individual results may vary.

Before proceeding with treatment, you should seek a second opinion with specialist orthodontist.

After exhausting multiple avenues to address persistent breathing problems following surgery to remove adenoids and tonsils, we offered palate expansion for this 4.5 year old.

At the 7 week progress mark, mum reported he had less fragmented sleep, no more teeth grinding, was more refreshed and happy on waking, less exhausted and grumpy after school, and was an overall happier boy.

Disclaimer:
Any orthodontic procedure carries risk, and individual results may vary.
Before proceeding with treatment, you should seek a second opinion with specialist orthodontist.

5.5 year old palate expansion – one month progress report.

A common problem that parents bring their children in to see us is speech therapy that is not really going anywhere.

What I usually look at is can we restore more normal jaw structure and make more tongue space, and can we restore more normal mobility through myofunctional therapy +/- tongue tie release.

I’m getting a subset of parents report very rapid changes with speech after commencing palate expansion, well before tongue ties are addressed.
This mum shares her observations, and it’s why I think it’s important that the fields of dentistry and speech integrate more in future to help build children’s confidence.

Disclaimer:
Any orthodontic procedure carries risk, and individual results may vary. Before proceeding with treatment, you should seek a second opinion with specialist orthodontist.

Palate expansion 9-year-old: 6-week progress update
This mum was at a loss as to what to do with her son’s breathing, sleep, and behaviour.

Thankfully her chiropractor Dr Mehdi Davoudi from Your Wellness House was able to recognise that there was a jaw problem and referred them to us for assessment.

Mum noticed lots of changes from the 3-week mark of treatment. She expressed she had a different child and wished she had started treatment earlier.

She shares some of the changes which highlight why when children are not breathing and sleeping well, I will consider expansion well before the traditional age of 7 years.

Disclaimer:
Any orthodontic procedure carries risk, and individual results may vary. Before proceeding with treatment, you should seek a second opinion with a specialist orthodontist

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