Frequently asked questions
Answers for laboratories, doctors and patients working with the VECS™ palate expander.
For laboratories
I expanded the plates during fabrication and now they will not contract. Why?
Expanding the plates before fabricating the mounting arms is fine. But you must make sure the gear threads are free of all debris, including cleaning agents, before contracting the plates. Debris in the gear threads will prevent the plates from collapsing back to the 0mm position.
What is the function of the rubber “O” ring?
The “O” ring creates an organic tension on the activation screw head so the patient cannot turn it with their tongue. If the ring is hit with the soldering gun during fabrication it may be compromised and should be replaced.
How do you clean the device after fabrication?
The VECS palate expander may be cleaned with a surface disinfectant or autoclaved prior to clinical insertion. Never submerge the VECS in any toxic cleaning agent — traces of the solution can enter the center body and later affect the patient.
How thick are the bending arms?
The bending arms are 1.4mm thick — no thicker than a traditional RPE, and bent with the same ease.
Why do I need a Lab Kit?
Fabrication is the same as a traditional RPE for bending and soldering, but the VECS activation head must be mounted at the correct angle relative to the front teeth. The kit includes 2 jigs to achieve that angle, a custom bending tool that is universal to all RPEs (the current bending tool will not work with the VECS), and 10 replacement O-rings in case the O-ring is affected by soldering heat.
For doctors
Does the VECS come with an activation key?
Yes. Each VECS includes one blue-handled activation key.
The key is not engaging into the activation head. Why?
Food can get lodged in the activation head. A toothpick is a good tool for clearing it out.
Will the VECS creep back on itself after activation?
It is virtually impossible. The gear inside the housing is a worm gear — similar to a car axle — and the pressure is not great enough to creep back.
The expander looks like it isn't opening evenly. Why?
The right and left expansion plates extend symmetrically, but the center body can move slightly side to side, giving the false impression that one side is expanding more than the other.
Can the patient activate the VECS palate expander?
Yes.
Which way do I turn the key to activate?
The key has a target symbol on one side and is blank on the other. Push on the side with the target symbol and the device is activated in the correct direction.
What is the expansion rate of the VECS palate expander?
0.2mm per one 360-degree rotation.
For patients
Why is there a large gap between my front teeth?
A large gap between the front teeth is a sign the process is working and you are getting a good palatal split.
Will my speech be affected?
Speech may be affected at first. Reading out loud for the first week or so helps adapt your speech back to normal.
Will activating the VECS expander be painful?
You can expect pressure at the cheek bones and possibly between the eyes while activating. This pressure goes away within minutes.
How do I activate the expander?
Insert the blue-handled key into the activation screw head with the butt-end of the handle pointing up toward your nose (the 12 o'clock position). From the operator's perspective, turn the key clockwise, pushing on the target side, until the butt-end returns to 12 o'clock. That is one full activation. Note: in the patient's view this motion is counter-clockwise.