Metal Mouth Message Board

I just finished orthodontic treatment, but since I'm 26, I did not have a palate expander.

I am considering rapid palatal expansion surgery so that I can have a broader arc and smile, so that all my teeth may show.

I just have a few questions:

(1) How much does this procedure cost?

(2) How much recovery time is needed?

(3) Do I need to have my jaw broken or wired shut? Or just my palate re-opened so that expansion may take place?

Thanks!!!

Has your ortho recommended this surgery for you? It is odd that you would be considering it now that you are finished your treatment, as it is typically done early in your treatment, if needed.

As far as I know, rapid palate expansion surgery is done when there is a discrepancy between the size of your upper and lower arches. Unless your upper arch is smaller than your lower, you are probably not a candidate for this surgery. It is not undertaken for purely cosmetic reasons, although there may be some cosmetic benefits as a side effect.

I have no idea how much it costs; it can vary greatly depending on where you live and whether your insurance covers it. Recovery time is usually a week or less. The actual surgery involves separating the two halves of your palate, and then you expand the space in between with a device called an RPE (rapid palate expander) over the next few weeks.

I had this on Jan 11, 2008.

First of all, If yo get this, you'll have to be braced again. I can't imagine any ortho would do this for cosmetic reasons.

As for your questions,

(1) Mine cost about $22,000 but was covered by my mediocre medical insurance and I only had to pay about $1800. I live in central PA.

(2) I only ended up taking one day off. I had it done on Friday and worked on Tuesday. I have a physically and mentally demanding job. I should have teaken a week off. It was really hard.

(3) Your jaw is cracked between your front teeth, and along both sides of your jawline through the back of your molars. You are not wired shut, Your expander holds everything where it needs to be.

It is a major pain, and I would never do this for cosmetics reasons. There is LOTS of information about SARPE on the Surgery board -you should look there. Hope this helps.

If you really needed it, it would have been brought up by your ortho at the start of your treatment (regardless of your age), would be my wild guess. So it would follow that your arch isn't that narrow, which would perhaps mean any change to your smile would be very subtle- and in that case it's not really worth it (but then that's something for you to decide )


I'd say about a week recovery, like the others said. I ended up having 3, however- the second because I was so swollen it was ridiculous, the third, because I then got the flu (which is unrelated, I know )

Hi,

I had the surgery three weeks ago. I did not find it all that bad at all. Actually being fitted with braces was a lot worse. I think it is strange to have the surgery after braces. I had mine just before getting them. As I am learning the hard way, expansion makes you develop a huge gap between your top teeth, so if you are not having braces after, you would be stuck with the gap!

Good luck, hope this helps...

Dont worry about the gap- it goes eventually (I'm not being braced until the expander is removed). Mine went within a week or two; for some it may take longer, or even shorter

I expanded 7mm and had an 8 mm gap. It has been 8 weeks since I have stopped turning and I have a 4mm gap now. I won't be braced until the expander is out (4-6 more weeks).

BTW, I thought that my SARPE surgery was worse than my gall bladder surgery I had in February.I coldn't stand the inflamation and numbness in my lips and cheeks.