1. Please turn your expander as Dr. Stark and his staff have instructed you.  Turn at the same time every day to develop a routine and to keep the interval of expansion even.  The key must be put into the appliance and pushed back as far as it will go to turn the expansion screw.

2. If you feel discomfort, pain, or dizziness, stop turning the appliance and call our office.

3. Use wax as needed (dry off area of appliance that rubs with edge of a towel or Q-tip and press a small ball of wax onto surface).   Rinse with warm salt water the first few days and as needed thereafter (one teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water).

4. Brush well around appliances and teeth.  Swish with water or fluoride rinse to clean around the palatal piece.

5. Rinse daily with a fluoride rinse such as Act, Listermint, Fluorogard, Oral B, or a generic.  DO NOT USE PLAX!  Follow directions on the bottle.

6. Avoid hard and sticky foods such as ice cubes, jawbreakers, gum, caramel, taffy, etc.

7. ALWAYS keep a long piece of dental floss attached to the expansion key to avoid accidental swallowing of the key when turning the appliance.

8. As you begin to get some expansion you may notice a space developing between your two front teeth.  This is normal, so don't be alarmed!   Dr. Stark will close this space as you go through treatment.