Numerous appliances can be used to effect expansion. One such appliance is the Advanced Light Force (ALF) appliance and is used frequently at Growing Faces. It guides the development of the jaws and airway, promoting optimal growth through gentle expansion and allowing the palate to be open and not occupied by plastic.  Jaw expansion often enhances  breathing, speech, and sleep patterns and thus positively influences behavior. These positive effects occur because as the jaw expands, the nasal passages widen and more space is created for the tongue to rest in.  Breathing becomes optimized when the tongue can rest comfortably in the palate and the child can close their lips and nasal breathe. In  instances where ALF is not appropriate for a particular patient,  other expansion appliances are utilized to modify the jaws.Typically a posture breathing therapy program is utilized during the period of expansion  so that the tongue may learn to occupy the newly widened space.