Thank you for your question. An upper jaw/maxillary expander is a custom made device on the roof of the mouth that uses the teeth as an anchor to transfer a force to expand the mid-palatal suture (a joint in the middle of the roof of the mouth).
The purpose of the expansion is to correct the transverse or sideways relationship between the upper and lower back teeth, typically the presentation involves several teeth in crossbite. Posterior crossbite where the upper teeth are positioned more inwards compared to the lower teeth is also a common presentation of patients with a Class III malocclusion or what is commonly referred to as an "underbite" as the wider part of the lower jaw meets the narrower part of the upper jaw as the lower jaw is more forwards.
Upper jaw expansion to correct an "underbite" is commonly done in conjunction with comprehensive braces treatment and is often not done in silo. As the lower teeth position contributes to the "underbite", both the upper and lower teeth need to be treated in order to achieve correction.The correction can be either dental (move teeth only) or skeletal (involve the bone as well). I would usually charge the cost of the braces package (ranges from $4000-$7000 depending on type of braces and complexity) and add in the lab cost of the upper jaw expander which is about ($300-$400). However different doctors may charge it differently, so it is best to check with your doctor.
Furthermore, the success of an upper jaw expander depends on the patency of the mid palatal suture. The suture is more patent in a young patient and tends to get more calcified with age. In adults, as the suture is more calcified and less malleable, the expansion may be done together with mini-implants to achieve more skeletal/bony change.
Upper jaw expansion can also be indicated for a young child to create space and or to correct posterior crossbite, this form of treatment is a type of early interceptive treatment. The child usually has to go through a second phase of comprehensive braces treatment after the jaw expansion. Hence the cost will differ in a young child as it is only a short phase of treatment to aid a full correction at a later stage.
Hope this helps and all the very best,
Dr Priscilla Lu
Orthodontist at the Orthodontic Clinic
