Turning the expander is very simple to do; the most difficult part is seeing into the patient's mouth. Have the patient lie back on a sofa, prop their head up on a pillow, with the chin up in the air. This will help you to see the expander better. You should see a small hole in the center of the expander. Place the key all the way into the hole. You will know that it is all the way in if you let go of the key and it stays in place. If you let go of the key and it falls out, you do not have it fully engaged in the hole. Once it is in the hole, gently push the key toward the back of the mouth. At the end of the movement, pull down on the key and it should come out of the hole. Congratulations, you have just turned the expander one full turn! It's that simple!
Call our office immediately for advice if a brace or wire is loosened. The brace may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day so that we may schedule an appointment for you.
