Metal Mouth Message Board

I hope someone can answer my question. I have had my rapid palatal expander on since January of this year. I'm trying to find out when this will be out of my mouth (my orth wouldn't give me an answer-just that it'll be on a "very long time"). I've read anywhere up to a year...I'm 29 years old and it'll definitely be on more since I'm an adult and had to have surgery (to make the expander work properly)-but am so anxious to get this thing off. My speech hasn't returned to normal and it won't until it's out of my mouth. Please someone help!

Thanks a bunch,
lzmilo

Hi Izmilo..I am 34 and I had sarpe too and have the expander in. I will have in a total of 6 mos...My ortho said that is enough time for the bone to regrow in my palet and its new shape will be secured. I don't know why you would need it so long..maybe a question for "ask the doc"?

do you have to have surgery to get an expander? I didn't even think to ask my ortho about this. Thanks

hi decisionmade,
thanks for the info and your response I'm definitely going to ask my orth some questions at my next visit. I figure that I'm paying him all of this $$ he needs to explain to me why it needs to stay on so long!
thank you

CelestialVoices--I don't think you have to have surgery to get an expander. I have two expanders (top and bottom) and I never had surgery. I think surgery can help move things along, especially for people with more complex cases, but it is not needed for everyone.

No, you don't have to have surgery to have an expander. I'm getting a quad-helix expander on my upper arch and bi-helix expander on my lower arch next week.

whew thanks JN and Jaws, now I won't be worrying so much