Question about expanders

Message

#1 Post by **lemonlyme** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:55 am

I'm getting my bands fitted tuesday so they can send off to have mine made, i was just wondering....I noticed some of you have the removable kind, but at my ortho's office he only had the fixed type. Did you people with the removable kind ask for this kind? Or is that just what your ortho gave you? I'm going to ask at my appointment on Tuesday.

#2 Post by **gunter8888** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 8:26 pm

I got the removable type, but no options were ever presented to me (nor am I complaining). I can see why they prefer not to let kids have removeable appliances, but as adults, I think we are all self-motivated enough to keep them in our mouths.

#3 Post by **lemonlyme** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 8:32 pm

I really hope he will let me have the removable kind, but at my last appointment he just had the fixed ones

#4 Post by **gunter8888** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:55 am

I wish you luck on getting the removable type. While the removables are great for cleaning and brushing I think you will find that all expanders take time to get used to and are rather painful at times. Keep the ibuprofen close at hand!

#5 Post by **jaswi** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:56 am

If it were me, I'd prefer a fixed type. I wouldn't want to have to take it out to eat and such, not to mention I beleive the fixed type would feel like you had less in your mouth than a removable one.

#6 Post by **SDFD TSchott** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:22 pm

My cousin had a removable one and it just kept gettin in her way apperently so she went back and they fitted her with a fixed one which isn't causing any problems!

SDFD TSchott

#7 Post by **Kris721** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:54 pm

I am wearing a "pendulum" which is designed to create space between my molars to allow correction of my overbite with braces. My appliance is very similar to an expander and mine is cemented in place. It was extremely uncomfortable for the first few months and still a pain in the you-know-what to this day. If it were removable, I would take this thing out and chuck it, so I'm grateful that it stays in place.

Having said that, I would recommend getting a fixed appliance.

#8 Post by **gunter8888** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:44 am

I haven't had any problems keeping my expander in place. After years of waiting to begin this journey and shelling out thousands of dollars I am VERY motivated to keep it in my mouth, turn the key regularly and hopefully see great results soon.

Guess its just one of those "to each his/her own" things.

#9 Post by **4tobrace** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:18 am

My son had a removable expander only it's not like what most people have had.

My son's expander was plastic. It was made out of the matieral they use for the plastic retainers. It went on the back teeth with clear snaps that were put on the teeth. It went across the top of his mouth just like a retainer does. They had taken impressions so that it fit perfectly. Each night he would pop it out, brush his teeth, maybe have a snack and of course brush again and then we put a new one in. He had a total of 24 of these and each night we put a new one in. Each one was a little bigger then the previous night. It was neat because we could hold #1 up to #24 and really see the size difference. My 6 year old actually put the new ones in himself...I had to take them out. He had no pain, no issues, nothing hanging down. He didn't mind it at all and each night he would remind me it was time to change.

He was expanded 6 mm with 24 expanders and not a moment of pain or discomfort.

So for us the removable type was wonderful. He had no issues and no complaints. He now has his braces on and it's amazing how much his teeth have moved and changed.

#10 Post by **JJ55** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:14 am

I just have a quick question, the "gap" between two of the front teeth how long does it take to close in or atleast get smaller. I have my expander on for 10 days and 2 turns a day and coming up on my last day.

#11 Post by **ShinySmile** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:42 pm

JJ55 wrote:I just have a quick question, the "gap" between two of the front teeth how long does it take to close in or atleast get smaller. I have my expander on for 10 days and 2 turns a day and coming up on my last day.

I stopped expanding after about 3.5 weeks, and my gap started closing immediately...it was about halfway closed by the time I got braces which was after about a 2 week wait.

#12 Post by **4tobrace** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:49 pm

Meryaten wrote:I'd suspect it made him feel better about the whole process having some measure of control over it himself.

That's exactly what happened. He took it very seriously since he had a part in it. When it's time for my baby to go through the same thing (she's almost 3 but we know she will be in the same boat in a few years)...we are going back with the same type of expander.

#13 Post by **lemonlyme** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:14 pm

I'm getting the fixed kind for sure, my orthodontist said no to the removable kind..oh well.