Maybe — and it depends on what’s going on with the jaw, not just the teeth. A palate expander isn’t something every child needs, but when it’s the right tool, it can make a huge difference in how treatment goes.
Here’s how Dr. Jen, Dr. Dena, and Dr. Wendy at Impact Orthodontics decide whether an expander is the right call — and equally important, when it’s not.
What a palate expander actually does
A palate expander slowly widens the upper jaw by pushing gently on the two halves of the roof of the mouth, nudging them gradually apart. As they separate, new bone fills in the gap — that’s how the jaw gets permanently wider.
This only works in kids because the roof of the mouth isn’t one solid bone yet. It’s two halves joined in the middle by a growth plate that doesn’t fully close until the mid-to-late teens. Once it closes, widening the jaw without surgery isn’t possible anymore. That window is real — which is part of why the Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic check-up by age 7. For the full rundown on how expanders work and what day-to-day life with one looks like, see the palate expander service page.
When Dr. Jen, Dr. Dena, and Dr. Wendy recommend an expander
A back crossbite — where the upper back teeth land inside the lower teeth instead of outside them — is the most common reason. This usually means the upper jaw is narrower than the lower one, so the jaw shifts to one side to find a comfortable place to bite. Over time, that one-sided pressure changes how the face grows. An expander widens the upper jaw and gets rid of the shift.
Serious crowding where there isn’t enough room for the adult teeth coming in. Widening the jaw creates space — and in some cases means pulling teeth later can be avoided entirely. Dr. Jen has had patients where early expansion meant four teeth stayed in mouths that would otherwise have needed extractions. Extractions are permanent. Expansion during growth is not.
A narrow jaw with breathing concerns. The roof of the mouth is also the floor of the nose — so a narrow upper jaw means less room to breathe through the nose. Some kids with narrow jaws end up breathing mostly through their mouth, especially at night. Parents often chalk it up to allergies or just assume that’s how their child breathes. Dr. Jen has had families where snoring and restless sleep got noticeably better after expansion — under the guidance of a sleep physician. The parents had no idea the breathing was connected to the jaw. But it often is.
Adult teeth that are stuck or blocked and need room to grow in where they should.
See also: Does my child need Phase 1 orthodontic treatment? — expanders are often one part of Phase 1 care.
When they don’t recommend an expander
An expander isn’t the answer just because a child has some crowding. If the bite is coming in well, the jaw is a reasonable width, and the teeth look like they’re heading to the right spots, waiting for full treatment later is often the better call.
Dr. Jen, Dr. Dena, and Dr. Wendy also don’t recommend expanders just to push full treatment down the road. If early expansion isn’t actually going to change what needs to happen later, it’s not worth the time or cost. They’ll tell you this directly.
The question parents ask most
“What if we just wait for braces?”
It depends on why expansion was recommended in the first place.
For a crossbite with jaw shifting, waiting means the jaw keeps growing to one side — and that becomes harder and harder to fix the longer it goes on. For a narrow jaw with breathing problems, waiting means your child keeps breathing through a restricted airway through more years of growth. For crowding that expansion might fix without pulling teeth, waiting means potentially losing that option as the growth window closes.
In some cases, waiting is a perfectly reasonable choice with trade-offs you can live with. In others, it makes later treatment a lot harder and more expensive. Dr. Jen, Dr. Dena, and Dr. Wendy will tell you exactly which situation your child is in — so you can make a real decision rather than just going along with whatever you’re told. What happens at a child’s first orthodontist appointment is where that conversation starts.
Find out whether your child actually needs one
If another provider has recommended an expander and you want a second opinion — or if you’ve noticed signs of a narrow jaw, a crossbite, or chronic mouth breathing — come in.
Dr. Jen, Dr. Dena, and Dr. Wendy will tell you specifically whether an expander is the right move, what problem it would solve, and what the alternative looks like. If it’s not needed, they’ll tell you that too. For children under 20, consultations at Impact Orthodontics are always free.
Book a free consultation — SE Calgary and SW Calgary locations.
Frequently asked questions
What age does a child need a palate expander?
If an expander is needed, the best time is while the jaw is still growing — usually between ages 7 and 14. Once the growth plate in the roof of the mouth closes in the mid-to-late teens, widening the jaw requires surgery. An assessment at Impact Orthodontics is the only way to know whether your child’s timing is right.
Can a palate expander fix crooked teeth?
It can create the space that lets teeth come in straighter — but it’s a jaw-width solution, not a tooth-alignment solution. If your child has crowded or crooked teeth, it helps to understand whether the jaw or the teeth are the root of the problem. Are crooked teeth in kids normal? is a good starting point.
Is a palate expander part of Phase 1 treatment?
Often, yes. An expander is one of the most common Phase 1 appliances, used to address jaw problems before full braces. Does my child need Phase 1 orthodontic treatment? explains when Phase 1 makes sense and when it doesn’t.
What happens if we skip the expander and just wait for braces?
It depends on why the expander was recommended. For a crossbite or narrow jaw, waiting means the problem keeps developing and gets harder to fix. For some mild crowding, waiting is perfectly reasonable. How do I know if my child needs braces? covers the timing question in more depth.
How do I know if my child needs a palate expander?
The only way to know is an orthodontic assessment — there’s no reliable way to tell by looking. Dr. Jen, Dr. Dena, and Dr. Wendy evaluate jaw width, bite, and airway at every child’s first visit. First consultations at Impact Orthodontics are free for children under 20.
