Metal Mouth Message Board

I have a crossbite on the left side of my jaw in the back. After reading a lot of bad experiences on this board on how getting braces/expansion changed their face, I'm thinking of backing out. The ortho said that my crossbite won't really be a problem until I'm in my fifties.

The thing is that right now I really like the way my face and teeth look like. I'm going to have to get a palate expander on the upper side of my jaw, but it will only expand the left side since that's where my crossbite is. My left side of my face is already a bit bigger than my right side. I'm afraid that expanding just that side will make my face look even more uneven.

I have/had the same problem, it's called a unilateral posterior crossbite. Mine is on the right hand side. I have so far achieved about 5mm of expansion and have not noticed any facial changes. Your orthodontist is right about one thing, the bit about the 50s. I was told the same thing, not a problem....until it was. The strain the crossbite put on my TMJs resulted in damage to the joint, I have no cartilage left and was in constant pain at 58 years old. The pain has diminished as my bite has improved. I wish I had fixed my crossbite 30 years ago, b/c the TMJ pain is not fun.

[quote="Prometheus"]I have/had the same problem, it's called a unilateral posterior crossbite. Mine is on the right hand side. I have so far achieved about 5mm of expansion and have not noticed any facial changes. Your orthodontist is right about one thing, the bit about the 50s. I was told the same thing, not a problem....until it was. The strain the crossbite put on my TMJs resulted in damage to the joint, I have no cartilage left and was in constant pain at 58 years old. The pain has diminished as my bite has improved. I wish I had fixed my crossbite 30 years ago, b/c the TMJ pain is not fun.[/quote]

Did your expander create a gap between your front teeth? because I thought since they'd only have to expand one side of the jaw, there wouldn't be one. My ortho tells me nothing. :/

I did not get an expander, my orthodontist is using rectangular wires. In general they don't use rapid expanders in 50 year old patients, slow expansion seems to be the preferred approach. This is why I still have braces after 2 1/2 years, and I still have 2 mm of expansion to go. And yes, I do now have a gap between my two upper front teeth. I've been told that that gap, and the other ones that have appeared elsewhere will eventually get closed with power chains and rubber bands.

Hi guys, I'm in my 40's and have a cross bite. I have had three sets of braces(2full up and down). I was having problems with my teeth staying where they were put, retainer and all. My current orthodox has dug deep and said something about an acymetrical jaw joints etc. I am having the sarpe with orthodontic surgery and with the rapid palate expander. The rapid palate expander only works on adults with the assistance of surgery to devide the palate suture. Looks like we may be doing this together.


Ayleiah