A quad helix expander is a custom fit orthodontic appliance that is specifically engineered to expand the palate. It is often recommended to children as it widens the arch of the mouth and makes room for crowded teeth, corrects crossbites, or prevents thumb sucking.

It is attached by bands to the 6 year molars and adjusted every 4 to 6 weeks until the ideal expansion has been obtained. Immediately after receiving a quad helix expander, a patient can expect some soreness as well as some extra saliva. This can be alleviated with an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Advil or Tylenol. Wax or wet cotton balls may help as well.

In addition, they may find that they sound differently when they speak. Fortunately, their speech will return back to normal in a few days. We recommend that they speak out loud as much as possible so that their tongue can get used to the appliance. They can read stories out loud if they’d like. Our dental friends in Richmond, VA, River Run Dental always encourage you to seek professional opinions from dentists and orthodontists before making a major change in your life.

Although a quad helix expander does affect speech, this is only temporary. If a patient is still having issues with their speech after about a week, we encourage them to visit our office. We’ll make sure the device is in good shape and offer additional recommendations on how to improve speech and get back to speaking normally again.

Schedule an Appointment at Sims Orthodontics

If you’d like more information on quad helix expanders and how they affect speech, call our office today at 850-477-7715 to schedule an appointment.