Intraoral expansion screw replacement using a light-cured acrylic technique.

Maxillary rapid palatal expansion (RPE) frequently is used to correct skeletal crossbite. A fixed expander with the expansion screw embedded in palatal acrylic (Haas appliance) often is used. Expansion screws come in varying sizes. Situations such as narrow, high vault palate or collapsed posterior segments of a cleft palate may make it impossible to place the desired size expansion screw, necessitating replacement of the appliance. This normally involves fabricating a new RPE appliance and a delay in treatment. Ideally, expansion with a larger screw should continue without delay. A technique for immediate intraoral replacement of an expansion screw using a light-cured acrylic system is presented, as used in expansion for a cleft palate patient.