SARPE Surgery

[crazybeautiful]

I think it is because you are only having a 6mm expansion. How long are you to expand for? The gap may begin to show in the last few turns.


So long as you can see a movement in your actual expander, you don't need to worry. This dictates your progress with the expansion, not the gap

When your ortho or surgeon are back at work, give them a ring to ease your mind- but I do think you'll be fine

[bohy1b]

hey, i am half way through my expansion period (1 month total). I am just afraid that for what whatever reason (incisions into my jaw not being deep enough, etc etc) that I am getting tooth movement + bending of the expander arms attached to my teeth, instead of jaw expansion.

[sauerkraut]

Hi all and Happy New Year.

I've been keeping up with this thread but like Lisa haven't had all that much to say for a while. I was ill over Christmas (some kind of flu bug) and I don't know if that had anything to do with it but I started chewing up my tongue against the expander in my sleep which has been quite painful. It seems to be resolving itself slowly now.

My enormous gap (1cm?) has already closed itself. Pre-SARPE my front teeth overlapped and the one at the front protruded so far I could no longer close my mouth properly. Yes it was as ugly as it sounds. Now the front teeth seem to be organising themselves into the space provided. Who needs braces anyway?! But in answer to your question, Lisa, I fully expect my expander will be in for 6 months before my braces are fitted. It's been 3 months so far. Will see what the ortho has to say at my next appointment in a couple of weeks.

Bohy1b have you tried taking any photos of your progress? (Photos of what's going on inside your mouth I mean). If you are expanding correctly you should gradually be seeing more and more of the screw. You could try comparing your own photos with the ones on the website link you posted. And photos might help you see if there really is any bending and tipping going on. Like crazyb says, there's probably no need to worry and no doubt your ortho can put your mind at rest when you're able to call after the holidays. My gap appeared very quickly, but I needed a lot of expansion and was doing 4 turns a day, so that isn't a very useful comparison.

Crazybeautiful, thanks to you I found myself sitting at the computer the other day saying "Q" to the screen. I must have looked a right twit. I could do it though. Saying "happy new year" is harder!

Best wishes to all.

[crazybeautiful]

Crazybeautiful, thanks to you I found myself sitting at the computer the other day saying "Q" to the screen. I must have looked a right twit. I could do it though. Saying "happy new year" is harder!

I keep trying to practice my 'Q's but it is no use. The closest I get is 'coo' or saying 'k -*longest pause ever*- yoo'. Thankfully I don't have to say many words with a 'Q' in

[bohy1b]

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP

after 17 days.

Got up one morning ... no gap ... did my morning turn ... still no gap ... had breakfast ... stuck a nail in between my front teeth ... still no gap ... 1 hour later there is a 1mm gap ... just kinda burst open ... looks like i am gonna end up with a 3 mm gap by the end .. not too bad

[sauerkraut]

Congratulations bohy1b! Hope that's set your mind at rest!

[crazybeautiful]

Yay!

Now you'll moan that you have a gap! Mine has reduced back to about 1 or 2mm now, so hopefully it will completely close soon. I get this horrid expander taken out in April (do you think they'll let me burn it? )

[badbite]

It looks like I'll be the next SARPE victom. My surgery (try saying that word with an expander in) is Friday.

Has anyone had any pain from the expander? The tooth on the front left that the expander is attached to hurts. I think I was clenching last night and that whole side of my mouth has been trobbing in pain since about 1 am. I also have a lower molar on that side that probably needs a root canal, so that doesn't help.

Excited but nervous abut the surgery. I do have a cold so I hope that does not interfere.

[sauerkraut]

My RPE wasn't fitted until surgery so I can't help on the question of pain beforehand, sorry.

Just wanted to wish you all the best for the op tomorrow. Let us know how you get on!

[jrp31]

i just wanted to touch base with everyone because i havent came on for a while. I called my ortho on dec 27th because i had a callus on my tongue from the expander they said he i think it would be ok to take it out now will you come in tomorrow and i said oh yah! so expander was out the 28th of december. they told me i will hear crunch crunch and some pressure( My expander was glued to my teeth and pink and they put sealant on my teeth to prevent cavaties while they expander was in place). After that i felt like a deer in front of head lights i was a little confused. It didnt hurt but was very unpleasant for a moment. 4 months and 1 day i was supposed to have the expander in i got it out 5 days early. I went through a slight ach stage with my jaw and then a very hot feeling in my jaw but that is all gone now i have spacers(blue rubber bands) in now as of monday. It didnt hurt to put those in but about 2 hours later i felt as if i had cavities on all back teeth since then has subbsided. I get braces top and bottom on monday the jan 14th 2 hour ortho appt. It took me a while to relearn how to talk again after they took the expander out! most of my teeth virtually relaxed immediatly after the expander was out(not bowing out) except for one tooth that got pushed up alittle but the braces will fix that.Just touching base! Joy

[crazybeautiful]

Congrats on the expander removal! I've just made a ticker so I can dream of the exact day when mine is too


Ugh, a 'crunch' is something I'm dreading though. Sometimes my jaw makes that noise and feeling and I hate it

I have an appointment a week after the one to remove my expander, so I'm guessing that's when I'll have my braces fitted.... Although, I may need some extractions so wouldn't they be done beforehand? I dunno

Badbite- You'll probably not be posting for a few days (I logged in on day 2 or 3 and I was too drugged up to make a fully legible post ) and will be all swollen and chipmunk-y as I type probably, but hope it went well and see you soon!

[jrp31]

i have severe crowding on the bottom and my ortho is not pulling any teeth. which i am supprised because everyone else wants to pull a tooth or 2. But everyone says hes the best in my area so i have faith! if you have the same type of expander as me it will feel like they pulled some teeth out but they will all be intact Joy

[crazybeautiful]

My crowding is worse on the top- both canines having grown too high up for them to be of any use when biting or chewing, so I desperately hope they will be removed as they serve no purpose whatsoever, except to maybe make me look ugly - and they certainly won't be missed! I hate them

[jrp31]

crazy beautiful- ihave a canine that moved into the lateral spot but my dentist is either going to reshape the canine(free) to look like a lateral or i will get an inplant. Nothing will compare to having your real teeth if you can keep them. my one canine tooth is the one sticking up at an angle(from expander) and yah its ugly but with braces and some help from my ortho and dentist i hopefully will get to keep all my teeth. Maybe with the braces and some reshaping you will like your smile just a thought. You only get your permanent teeth once! Joy The more teeth you have the broader the smile

[badbite]

I am officailly on the other side! Surgery went well, and I think I have most of the feeling in my lips, but none in my 5-6 front teeth. Doc said things went well. He turned 2 times during surgery and once yesterday. I (or rather DH) will turn once on Tuesday and I see OS on Wednesday.

Question, were all of our scared that yhour expansion would not be symmetrical? I am also scared my mouth is filthy and I am going to have tons of decay after this. Am trying my best though.

I feel all doped up and swollen (though OS says my swelling is surprisingly small) no real bruising yet, but I am not even 48 hours post op. Gotta go before my head pops off.

Oh, And thankyou all for your support!