Can the palate broaden with age?

[needadvancement]

I've read people's claims who say that they have witnessed people naturally developing a wider palate as they aged. I can't find any sort of studies on this though so I'd like to hear your thoughts. Also if it is true then would it be impossible if I get ortho work done and have to apply retainers for pretty much forever?

[notrain]

not possible without surgery after you're done growing.

[needadvancement]

You're probably right. I'm talking a timeline of decades though and they do say your facial bones change as you age.

[notrain]

of course they change as you age - for the worse

FWIW i think i read that transverse development of the palate ends before you turn twelve.

[Nataliepryor]

I have been told that when my 7 yo son has his RPE fitted, for expanding his top palate, that sometimes the bottom jaw can 'follow suit' somewhat, as he grows.

But this won't expand as you age, if anything you narrow in the face with age. Maybe their round face became more oval shape, which makes their palate appear wider??

[needadvancement]

Thanks for the confirmation, I can get this out of my head now as I continue my ortho treatments. I had this silly hope in the back of my mind. It's too bad I'll always have a somewhat narrow palate and I can't get SARPE because my bite would be ruined.

[Nataliepryor]

Why can't you have SAPRE? I have read some blogs where patients wear braces simultaneously so the bite does not end up in turmoil.

[needadvancement]

My mandible is too narrow, my palate is already wider and currently fits perfectly on my bite.

I would need to get both broadened and as far as I know I can't get a SARPE-like surgery for the bottom jaw.

[Nataliepryor]

Oh ok, fair enough.  My bottom was wider so now they match.

[notrain]

I would need to get both broadened and as far as I know I can't get a SARPE-like surgery for the bottom jaw.

it exists but it is highly unstable.

[needadvancement]

I really should have had a palate expander in my early teens. From what I've read, the lower arch will simultaneously expand a bit with the upper arch for children. It may have been able to develop my jaws much better than what I ended up with.

[terry947]

@needadvancement - expansion at any age is possible. Bones aren't some dead set in stone thing, they're always changing. You can get actual palatal (not teeth tipping expansion) over 1-2 years of 5-10mm. As for the mandible it'll take longer but I don't see why it can't expand over the years with some kind of appliance. Theres also distraction osteogenesis, but no one here as had it and supposedly if you get it the incisors in the mandible have a risk of falling out. Thats the only surgical way or expanding the mandible. Palatal expansion naturally just takes way way longer than surgery.

heres a link talking about it: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Slow-expansion-in-adults-does-4289021.S.113996449?_mSplash=1

[needadvancement]

Thanks for the link terry I'll look into it.