The Schwarz Appliance is a removable expander which helps to correct a crossbite, crowding issues, and a narrow jaw in growing children. Depending on the situation, the Orthodontist might need the child to wear the Schwarz on only the bottom, only the top, or both. There are several types of Schwarz devices, used for a variety of jaw and palate expansion situations. One thing that all of them have in common is the need to turn an expansion key on a regular basis. The device is named after its inventor, Artur Martin Schwarz, an Austrian orthodontist who developed it in 1956.
Depending on the situation, a child might wear a Schwarz Appliance for four to nine months. If an extra expansion is necessary, the Orthodontist might also use a Rapid Palatal Expander.
Photo courtesty of Dynaflex.