RPE Quick Question

[ehunt3]

Hello,

I am new on the discussion board but have been reading the discussion boards and the info on this website for a few months now and it is all so helpful! I am 25 and got full braces on June 20, and a Rapid Palatal Expander put in on June 27th. I have been turning it every other day since then and much to everyone's surprise, my palate has actually expanded and I have a "lovely" (or not) gap between my upper two front teeth. I had a palatal expander when I was a kid, so they're guessing that's why this one worked as well, the suture was already weakened from that.

Anyway, my question is... I have an 8mm expander and am supposed to turn it 6 more times. I have already turned it 25 times and I each turn is 1/4mm. If it's an 8mm expander, shouldn't it only be able to be turned 32 times, not 33? What happens if I turn it the prescribed 33rd time--will it not turn or will it turn and the screw come out and it fall open?

Silly question, I know...but I was just wondering. I think when I saw my orthodontist almost 2 weeks ago, she had mistakenly thought I had only turned it 20 times when I actually had turned it 21 because of the day the appointment fell on... Unfortunately, I didn't do the math until I got home later that day. Hmm... I guess I could just call her office and ask, but I figured I'd ask you all first.

Thanks!!

[ehunt3]

Sorry...my math was bad... I have 6 more turns left and have turned it 27 times already, not 25...duh! All this metal is affecting my brain, I think!! :)

[ArchWired28]

From what I have read about RPEs, it is better to OVER expand than to not expand enough, since you will inevitably have some relapse. If you overexpand it a little, they should have no problems constricting it, so don't worry.
It is interesting what you say about expansion at 25, could it be possible that you actually shift the teeth within the bone and hence the gap?

[ehunt3]

Thanks for the reply. My orthodontist actually said there appears to be a split right down my palate that wasn't there before. I can feel it with my tongue too...there are two ridges and a depressed line a few mm wide right down the middle. We are all baffled that it worked. I hope this doesn't mean I'm going to have brittle bones in the future! I've never broken a bone before, so this is odd.

[ArchWired28]

I dont think it has to do with the brittle bones at all. I would say, good for you that it worked. Keep turning that key just in case it suddenly stops