Is my palate VERY narrow? -anyone else with a narrow palate?

[Anna5]

Thanks! I still often think, don't I still need SARPE or expansion, but I am glad you all think my arch is fine!

[Duckyfuzz]

I too hate my narrow smile. Have had my top braces on for 9 months and although
they have made a difference on pictures, I still feel like my jaw is too narrow. I'm worried too that when the brackets come off, it will make it feel narrower still.
I must say your arch looks pretty perfect to me however. We are our own worst critics without a doubt.

[Anna5]

Thanks for your reply, Duckyfuzz. I am sorry to hear that you are also not happy with your narrow arch.
Do you also have a crossbite? Hopefully the braces can still widen your arch a bit.... Or do you consider surgery if you remain unhappy?

[Duckyfuzz]

I was told at my initial consultation that only surgery would give me the perfect smile. My overjet caused by a recessive lower jaw being the main reason. A cross bite was never mentioned but that's not to say I haven't got one. I don't know what one is. Would I know if I had one? The braces alone have widened my arch quite a lot in 9 months when I compare photos. But I don't know if I've reached the end of that widening now. I decided at the very start that I didn't want surgery. I am too scared of surgery related problems e.g. Loss of feeling, I don't have the money ( these braces have stretched me to the limit) and I'm scared about changing the way I look. Plus, from the front I don't think my lower jaw recession is too noticeable because my chin in not recessed. I think that if they brought my lower jaw forward I'd look ridiculously chinny! I know I will never look perfect but I already like the changes and feel glad that I even took the plunge by having a brace fitted at 38. It can only be an improvement. How much was your smile widened by braces alone? My dentist talks about making new bone but I've read that it only works by tipping teeth.

[Anna5]

Thanks for your message, Duckyfuszz I am glad that the braces widened your arch quite a lot. My braces also widened my arch. Unfortunately, I don't have a before picture, so I cannot show you how much.
A crossbite often happens when your upper jaw is smaller than your lower jaw (normally it is the opposite). When you have a crossbite your upper molars/teeth bite on the inside of your lower molars/teeth. When you just google 'crossbite' you can find very clear pictures of what I mean. The ortho corrected my crossbite, which is great, but my arch still remains a bit narrow. In my opinion at least, because here on archwired everybody thinks my arch is OK!
My lower jaw is also a bit recessed (my overjet is 5 mm), but I think it is not that bad. So I will also never look perfect, but what is perfect?