A palatal expander may seem large and bulky when initially cemented in your mouth. Your tongue will need to get used to its new neighbor and therefore you may feel as if you are producing more saliva and perhaps having difficulty saying certain words or sounds. We will instruct you in-office how turns will be done and how many should be done (this varies from patient to patient) to activate the expander as turns are typically done at home by your parent or guardian. You may experience slight pressure in your nasal and forehead area when each turn is being done. An over-the-counter pain medication can help alleviate any discomfort associated with it. You will get used to the expander but it may take one week or several weeks. You may also start to notice a space opening up between your two top front teeth. This is normal and will be corrected down the line.