Lip and cheek bumpers and Palatal expanders
by mheo soriano
Lip and cheek bumpers
These devices are designed to keep the lips or cheeks away from the teeth. The lip and cheek muscles are known to exert pressure on the teeth, and these bumpers help alleviate that pressure.
Palatal expanders
The Palatal expander is an appliance used to widen the arch of the upper jaw. It is a plastic plate that is often placed on the roof of the mouth. Outward pressure is then applied to the plate by screws force the joints in the bones of the palate to open lengthwise, widening the palatal area.