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Dentistry/rapid palate expansion verses night time appliance

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Expert: - 10/15/2008


Question
My older son had palate expansion via night appliance by peds dentist in our
old city worked great. now in new city Younger son needs palate expansion,
orthodontist claims has to be rapid expander because he claims night
appliance won't really work and will tip teeth. who is right , how do I find
peds dentist in my area that knows how to do night device. Thanks!!  

Answer
A removable night expander will mostly tip the teeth.  This is not a good way to achieve palatal expansion since the teeth will ultimately tip back to their previous positions.  A rapid palatal expander is the proper way to achieve treatment goals.
My suggestion would be to have orthodontic treatment done by an orthodontist rather than a general dentist or pediatric dentist who has not specifically trained in orthodontics.

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Dr. Randolph Myerson

Expertise

Please limit your inquiry to questions about orthodontics (braces) and children's dentistry. I am both an Orthodontist and a Pediatric Dentist, having been trained in both of these dental specialty fields. Orthodontics is the dental specialty that treats problems of tooth, bite and jaw alignment using braces and removable appliances. Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty also known as dentistry for children, which deals specifically with the dental problems of this special age group from infants to adolescents. I am also experienced in Forensic Dentistry, the application of dentistry to law enforcement and identification using dental records.

Experience

I have been in the private practice of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for over 20 years. Prior to that I served for three years on the Cleft Palate and Cranio-facial Reconstruction team at Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia and was an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. I also served as a dentist in the U.S.Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC.

Organizations
I am a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, as well as a member of the American Dental Association and the Dental Society of the State of New York.

Education/Credentials
I received my BA in Biology from Frankin & Marshall College in 1969, and my dental degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973. In 1978 I received both my Certificate in Orthodontics from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and my Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing a three year Teaching Fellowship in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in 1978.

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