Can Damon Braces expand the palate of adults?

[Nate92]

Hi everyone. I'm sure if you've read my other posts you know I am interested in expanding my palate. I am 21 years old and looking to correct a narrow palate and receding jaw.

Has anyone had any luck with expanding palate? On top of that please share your experience with Damon Braces in general!

*And please include your age*

Thanks!

[Tobilei]

I'm 34 and have Damon Clear on top. I can't comment on widening a bite because I don't need that done. However, I have not noticed that my top teeth are moving any more quickly than my lowers (which have Unitek branded brackets) and my ortho never claimed that they would (despite what you read on the internet about Damons). I like the self ligating function, I find it a lot more comfortable when it's wire changing time as opposed to the ligatures and I like the fact that they don't stain, but otherwise they're not some amazing new technology that they kind of claim to be I don't think.

[Slack]

Hi,

I'm 35, and started 3months ago with damon braces (metal), upper and lower. I had mild crowding, and, given that, the usual solution is to remove some teeth to gain space. My ortho told me it wasn't necessary, and after a couple months my crowding was pretty much solved, without extractions (I'm not done yet, though, but the teeth are aligned). The arch expanded a little, enough to accommodate the "off-line" teeth - so it does expand, to some extent. About the palate, it should expand accordingly, I guess.

Of course, with severe crowding it wouldn't be that easy... there's just so much braces can achieve, damon or not. The physics behind the braces method looks very similar to me - usage of a metal wire to shape the arch - it's just the way it achieves the results that vary: wire type, control over the wire, the forces (torque), etc etc.

[agrace90]

I'm getting the Damon braces clear in a bit more than a week and its supposedly going to widen my top arch so I hope so! :)

[Alisonpv]

I'm getting the Damon braces clear in a bit more than a week and its supposedly going to widen my top arch so I hope so!

likewise! I get mine June 21.

[Okate]

Hiya I just PM'd you!! Just wanted to say I'm 30'(just..) and my ortho never said anything about damons widening my arch unless I wasn't listening! : ) But I will ask him on the 28th when I see him because I wanna know now.

[kennyandrew85]

The answer is no and yes.

Damon brackets are the same as regular ceramic brackets except they have a flap that closes the wire down whereas traditional brackets need little rubber bands to hold them onto the wire.

The truth is, the wire does all the work and if your teeth are narrow or crowded then any braces will likely eexpand your arch width. The wire decides the arch width and it's up to the brackets to cling onto it and pull your teeth with it.

So why do some ortho prefer dDamon?
1.) flaps don'tlose strength so less aadjustments are required which means more time and profit for ortho.
2.) if an ortho is more comfortable with Damon they will stick with Damon
3.) Damon spend a lot on marketing, if your ortho is a Damon provider they have another avenue for patients to find them which again means more profit.

[sirwired]

Can it widen the palate? Not really. There are palatal expanders (with mixed stable, long-term results in adults), and they exert more "outward" force than any archwire could possibly muster. But the Damon archform is a little wider than a "standard" archform, which causes the teeth to be pulled outwards slightly; this opens up a couple more mm for the ortho to work with. While Damon is the most well-known, I'd be shocked if the other ortho supply companies didn't have a similar archform; I know 3M has their MBT+, and I'm sure there are others.

The actual Damon brackets themselves aren't anything special; just another self-ligating bracket system.

[Nate92]

Hi everyone! Thanks for all of the responses. It's nice to know that this forum is so helpful.

I'm 34 and have Damon Clear on top. I can't comment on widening a bite because I don't need that done. However, I have not noticed that my top teeth are moving any more quickly than my lowers (which have Unitek branded brackets) and my ortho never claimed that they would (despite what you read on the internet about Damons). I like the self ligating function, I find it a lot more comfortable when it's wire changing time as opposed to the ligatures and I like the fact that they don't stain, but otherwise they're not some amazing new technology that they kind of claim to be I don't think.

I'm getting the Damon braces clear in a bit more than a week and its supposedly going to widen my top arch so I hope so!

I'm 35, and started 3months ago with damon braces (metal), upper and lower. I had mild crowding, and, given that, the usual solution is to remove some teeth to gain space. My ortho told me it wasn't necessary, and after a couple months my crowding was pretty much solved, without extractions (I'm not done yet, though, but the teeth are aligned). The arch expanded a little, enough to accommodate the "off-line" teeth - so it does expand, to some extent. About the palate, it should expand accordingly, I guess.

Of course, with severe crowding it wouldn't be that easy... there's just so much braces can achieve, damon or not. The physics behind the braces method looks very similar to me - usage of a metal wire to shape the arch - it's just the way it achieves the results that vary: wire type, control over the wire, the forces (torque), etc etc.

Thanks guys. I will remember your stories.

I'm getting the Damon braces clear in a bit more than a week and its supposedly going to widen my top arch so I hope so!

likewise! I get mine June 21.

You both must be very excited! I wish you the best! Please be sure to come around and let us all know how you are doing

Hiya I just PM'd you!! Just wanted to say I'm 30'(just..) and my ortho never said anything about damons widening my arch unless I wasn't listening! : ) But I will ask him on the 28th when I see him because I wanna know now.

Thanks for the pm! You should definitely ask.

The answer is no and yes.

Damon brackets are the same as regular ceramic brackets except they have a flap that closes the wire down whereas traditional brackets need little rubber bands to hold them onto the wire.

What do you mean by this? A flap that closes the wire down?

The truth is, the wire does all the work and if your teeth are narrow or crowded then any braces will likely eexpand your arch width. The wire decides the arch width and it's up to the brackets to cling onto it and pull your teeth with it.

So why do some ortho prefer dDamon?
1.) flaps don'tlose strength so less aadjustments are required which means more time and profit for ortho.
2.) if an ortho is more comfortable with Damon they will stick with Damon
3.) Damon spend a lot on marketing, if your ortho is a Damon provider they have another avenue for patients to find them which again means more profit.

Can it widen the palate? Not really. There are palatal expanders (with mixed stable, long-term results in adults), and they exert more "outward" force than any archwire could possibly muster. But the Damon archform is a little wider than a "standard" archform, which causes the teeth to be pulled outwards slightly; this opens up a couple more mm for the ortho to work with. While Damon is the most well-known, I'd be shocked if the other ortho supply companies didn't have a similar archform; I know 3M has their MBT+, and I'm sure there are others.

The actual Damon brackets themselves aren't anything special; just another self-ligating bracket system.

Hi sirwired. Thanks for all your responses to my posts, I appreciate it the input.

Does anyone know if damon braces or braces will not only expand your arch (whether palatal or dental) forward? I know ALF can do that but boy does it seem expensive!!!

Also, what are all of you paying for your damon braces?

[safetysquirrel]

Hi!

I think pretty much all of the questions you've brought up on here would best be answered by a real orthodontist, rather than a forum of armchair orthodontists

I would suggest taking a list of all your questions into the ortho you plan to use (our several while you get consultations) and have them answer them.

In reference to your last question though, I paid 5400 and some change for Damon metal lowers and Damon clear uppers. I didn't pick Damons because they has some magical properties, simply because that was the bracket system my orthodontist prefers to use on adult patients.

[kennyandrew85]

I agree with safety squirrel, but I would advise going to a few orthdontists with the same questions (preferably some who don't deal with damon also for balanced views).

I would compare damon/traditional braces to perhaps a digital/analogue watch, both tell the same time but they are different methods of getting to the same result.

Always remember Orthodontics are a profession, and their main goal is to make a living. Although most are genuine, some will tell you what you want to hear to get your money.

[k0hl]

I'd be interested in more info on this too, I'm only just starting to research a potential second brace, but the option to widen my smile as well as straighten it out appeals, if it's possible. It'd be good to find some more impartial info on whether different types of braces can really make much of a difference :)

[aspiromusings]

I'd be interested in more info on this too, I'm only just starting to research a potential second brace, but the option to widen my smile as well as straighten it out appeals, if it's possible. It'd be good to find some more impartial info on whether different types of braces can really make much of a difference

I am 33 and have been braced with damon clears top and bottom for a little over 5 months - you may head over to my progress thread and see the my latest post - you can see how my smile has widened

I do think though the result varies from person to person and also what the orthodontist had to work with from the beginning

[mewginso]

Also interested in this, keen to see more responses, going to get damon braces in next month to fix alignment of upper teeth but have quite a narrow intermolar width relative to my face size.

[raph]

Hi meginsaw,
I'm currently 11 months in Damon treatment for crowding (mostly lower teeth), and I definitely feel more space in my jaw, and this without extractions (still have my left 2 wisdom teeth). Even if the jaw is still the same, the arch feels wider and more comfortable so I'm extremely happy with the process and the result.