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Often a too narrow upper jaw creates problems such as tooth crowding, a cross-bite and mouth-breathing. Tooth extractions can make place for the remaining teeth, but they don't solve the other problems. A smile showing a wide dental arch, with little space between the cheek and the teeth, is also more attractive.
 
Trans Palatal distraction is a technique by which the upper jaw is surgically weakened at the buttress areas and widened by an expansion device that is fixed in the palate. The jaw regains its initial strength after the widening. In this way, the cross-bite is corrected an the space that is created between the central incisors is used to align the other teeth.
One week after the intervention, the patient receives a wrench by which the expansion module is daily activated, by turning it downward till the next colour code appears. The activation lasts a few weeks, according to the amount of expansion that is necessary.
The device is removed under local anaesthesia, 4 to 6 months after its placement.
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