Releasable palatal expanders

A method of removing a palatal expander shell apparatus from a patient's teeth, the method comprising:

• applying a pulling force to a buccal side of the palatal expander shell apparatus while a first tooth engagement region is worn on a first set of the patient's teeth and a second tooth engagement region is worn on a second set of the patient's teeth, and while a palatal region extending between the first tooth engagement region and the second tooth engagement region is applying a lateral force between the first tooth engagement region and the second tooth engagement region,
• wherein the pulling force causes a breach region of the palatal expander shell apparatus to break or bend at a predetermined location and disengage from the first or second set of the patient's teeth, wherein the breach region extends anteriorly to posteriorly along the palatal expander shell and comprise one or more regions having a mechanical strength that is less than the material strength of the regions of the palatal expander surrounding to the breach region;
• and
• removing the palatal expander shell apparatus from the patient's oral cavity.

A palatal expander apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a pair of tooth engagement regions each extending anteriorly to posteriorly, and configured to be worn over the patient's teeth, wherein the tooth engagement regions each comprise an occlusal side and a buccal side;
• a palatal region connecting the pair of tooth engagement regions, wherein the palatal region is configured to apply a lateral force between the pair of tooth engagement regions when the apparatus is worn by the patient;
• and
• a breach region extending anteriorly to posteriorly, the breach region configured to predictably bend or break when a pulling force is applied to the buccal side of either or both of the pair of tooth engagement regions.

A palatal expander apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a pair of tooth engagement regions each extending anteriorly to posteriorly, and configured to be worn over the patient's teeth, wherein the tooth engagement regions each comprise an occlusal side and a buccal side;
• a palatal region connecting the pair of tooth engagement regions, wherein the palatal region is configured to apply a lateral force between the pair of tooth engagement regions when the apparatus is worn by the patient;
• and
• a breach region extending anteriorly to posteriorly, the breach region having a mechanical strength that is less than the mechanical strength of regions adjacent to either side of the breach region so that the breach region predictably bends or breaks when a pulling force having a laterally outward component is applied to the buccal side of either or both of the pair of tooth engagement regions.