Palate Expansion opus 792
| 18 March 2026 1639 Hours | | Medical, Biology, Education, Genetics, Science, Youth |
As previously discussed, many children and adults have crowded teeth.
As humans have evolved, the reduction in the jaw
Conflicts with the slower reduction of tooth size,
Resulting in a mouth full of crowded teeth.
The traditional way to solve this was using braces.
(As a child, I was one of the many with these devices.)
Today, another method is employed: a rapid palatal expander (RPE)
This is partially possible because the body develops in two halves.
The RPE is anchored to the upper back teeth.
With a key and screw system, pressure widens the upper palate.
It remains in place for three to six months.
Interestingly, it can create a diastema between the upper incisors.
(I have written about this phenomenon in a past poem.)
This procedure offers many benefits, but some caution is needed.
One benefit obtained is improved breathing
By widening nasal passages
The point here is that human evolution with
A 200-million-year-old gentler diet of cooking,
Has led to a reduction in tooth and jaw size,
But only at different rates,
Causing these present-day dental challenges!