Much Confusion on Adult Palate Expansion

[Jborders12]

Hi toothsday,

I had extreme top crowding, to the point where both of my lateral incisors was pushed completely behind my front teeth and canines. I was 22 when I went to the ortho for first time and during my consultation told me that they were uncertain if using the rapid palatal expander will work due to my age. I wasn't fond of the idea of surgery, so I agreed to the process if it needed to be done.

The RPE was placed on and began the treatment. I had it on (without braces) for 4 months and expanded it once or a twice a week depending on my progress. At the 4 month mark, I had all four bicuspids extracted (top + bottom) and braces put on (all on the same day!). I had the expander on for another year after that, although I stopped cranking it about 6 months after the braces were on. I've had the expander off now for about 8 months and my braces come off altogether in 2 weeks.

Hope my story helps a bit!

[toothsday]

Hi Jborders12,

Thanks a lot for replying! I'm just wandering, if you can tell me more.. How much expansion did you get, did you get the results you were hoping for? Was it just teeth moving or actual skeletal changes you noticed? I posted a thread here http://www. archwired .com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=45018

Thanks a lot again

[lillywag88]

[quote="jaws"]I agree that orthodontists just seem to differ on this issue. I do think that it's pretty much agreed upon that you can't actually expand the palate in adults without surgery. However, some orthos like to pull teeth to make room, while others like to 'expand' things dentally, by tipping the teeth outwards. I think the 'correct' option really varies from case to case.

My ortho is using a procedure on me called 'Controled Arch', which involves top and bottom 'expanders' (more like lingual arches). I have not had any extractions. The orthos on this site have said that I might have problems with retention once the braces are off, due to my ortho 'expanding' my arches by tipping my teeth outwards. However, my ortho seems to think that things will be fine. I guess only time will tell.

Here are some updated pictures:

Before Top:

[img]http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6342/spacers26gq.jpg[/img]

Top After 10 Months:

[img]http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5113 ... ped8ut.jpg[/img]

Before Bottom:

[img]http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6272/spacers12so.jpg[/img]

Bottom After 10 Months:

[img]http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5836 ... ped9pl.jpg[/img][/quote]

What do your teeth look like now? I would imagine they're perfect.

[41twinsmom]

I know this is old, but as I am about to get an expander, I would love to hear any more success stories as well.

[tightteeth]

I would like to explain my journey.I am 39 now. I had 9 teeth extracted for overcrowding when a kid like 12. I have a narrow palate. I had an expander with key I turned when I was 15 then braces then a retainer for 6 months...when 18 my teeth were going crooked again and I did a second round of the palate expander and braces and a permanent bottom retainer as well (I did not have a palate expander for my bottom palate). By 24 they were crooked again and I was told I needed jaw surgery because the bone was already fused which is why the palate retracted back to a narrow palate. I ended up getting 8 veneers on my front teeth which I loved at age 25; by 35 they were shifting :(. So now at 39 and my veneers are crooked and I took my bottom permanent retainer off at age 25 when I did my veneers and now they are crooked. Surgery scares me even more at this age...if I had to do it over I would have done a SARPE (jaw surgery with rapid expander). I am considering this now :/

[Amanda123]

I don't know what to do. I am so upset. I went to a terrible orthodontist who installed my palate expander on incorrectly and as a result I have a very uneven palate now at 28. Can anyone give me any advice on how to correct this or where I should go. I made appointments with other orthodontics and some oral surgeons but have not had any luck. Its had me really depressed. He also left the braces on 8 years and it damaged my teeth I need full mouth implants and cant afford it. My left side of my palate is wider than the right side. The right side has a knot on my palate from where the arm of the expander cut into it. I tried sueing him but its hard finding a lawyer. My roof of my mouth was even before I wore the appliance and now it so jacked up. What do I do? I`m sick of paying for consultations at oral surgeons and them not helping me or fixing the problem. Are there any doctors out there reading this that can help me please. What do I do? Where do I go? Any good oral surgeons out there think they cant fix me or am I messed up after this? I am willing to travel.

[djspeece]

Amanda,
I'm so sorry to hear about all of this. Since you are willing to travel, I'd suggest a consultation with my former orthodontist. Dr. Andrew Schwartz, who is board-certified and has offices in Rockville Maryland as well as Washington DC. His practice is Capitol Orthodontics. The office in Rockville houses a number of dental specialists, as well as top-notch general dentists. Dr. Schwartz is a young (well, to me ) professional who is very low-key, but straight-forward. He is meticulously detail oriented, has a great personality and dry sense of humor. The DC office is at 202-525-6952 and the MD office is at 240-428-0573. He's on the web at capitolorthodontics.com. My name is Dan Speece, he'll probably remember me.
In any event, best of luck to you.