Rapid Expander or Quad Helix for Child With Possible Apnea?
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 2:05 pm
Hello all. My 8 year old son has crowding and a high arched palate. He is also a chronic mouth breather, snores and grinds his teeth at night. He was sent to a specialist who says he has some airway issues but not apnea yet. My brother has severe sleep apnea and I really want to avoid this for my son.
The ortho we've seen wants to start my son on the hyrax rapid palatal expander in the next few months as he believes that will help his airway. Another dentist said I should possibly get a second opinion as there are more gradual ways to expand that create more natural bone where the midline splits (she claims the rapid expander forces the maxilla apart super quick which causes scar tissue to form and that is not very stable). She suggested a quad helix expander instead.
My brother had rapid palatal expansion as a child and that gave him room for all his teeth but it did nothing to help his apnea. This makes me think maybe the quad helix would be better?
Does anyone have any insight into this? Thanks so much
The ortho we've seen wants to start my son on the hyrax rapid palatal expander in the next few months as he believes that will help his airway. Another dentist said I should possibly get a second opinion as there are more gradual ways to expand that create more natural bone where the midline splits (she claims the rapid expander forces the maxilla apart super quick which causes scar tissue to form and that is not very stable). She suggested a quad helix expander instead.
My brother had rapid palatal expansion as a child and that gave him room for all his teeth but it did nothing to help his apnea. This makes me think maybe the quad helix would be better?
Does anyone have any insight into this? Thanks so much