SARPE Surgery

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#1021 Post by **abonelli** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:04 pm

I'm getting SARPE within the next month or so (I'm waiting for the insurance to approve it). As a 17 year old female in her senior year of highschool I'm obviously devastated about the gap. My ortho said it would only be there for 3 weeks however, from what I've read it sounds like it will be there for about 3 months! I don't know how I'll manage. I just hope it will be gone for prom in June. On average how long is the gap there for?

#1022 Post by **Esoteric** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:17 pm

I had my SARPE done on the 3rd and let me tell you it's actually been a breeze. No pain at all and I know this because I stopped taking pain killers the 3rd day. I saved them and cut them in half for when I crank on my expander

. I am 6 turns in and will be only be turning for a week if all goes to plan to get 7mm. I think the most annoying part so far was the swollen upper lip and the stitches make me feel like I have a chew in my upper lip, ick. I wonder if they dissolve or if I have to get them taken out?

Any way, just wanted to share a positive SARPE story.

#1023 Post by **redstar** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:49 am

Jack Daniels or shot of Vodka

Sat Sep 13, 2008 6:19 pm

what was the point to the post above mine??? anyone? any clue? anything to do with SARPE? it needs to be deleted...there are minors on here that should not be encouraged to dabble in alcohol.

#1025 Post by **fajitaman51** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:17 pm

Well, i'm sure it was all in good fun,
besides, being a minor myself, i don't feel compelled to follow that comment, haha.

Aboneli , I know the gap is a challenge, being a SARPE patient myself and a senior as well. I had SARPE about a month ago, and it's been a long, long road so far. The first week was a killer, but i was mostly on painkillers. It's the lack of an ability to eat that got me, though. I still miss hamburgers. But it wasn't terrible, I got used to the food and i eat lots of pasta and mashed potatoes and soup now. Ive been turning for about 2 and a half weeks, and that's what i;m struggling with right now. It's different for most people, some it hurts more than others, but for me it was mainly soreness. Im at about a 10 mm gap now, even though i was supposed to stp at 8 (my ortho wanted extra space to work with). As for school, its a little annoying having to correct people asking if you've lost a tooth, but for the most part it's not bad either. In addition i get lots of encouraging comments, saying that my teeth are gonna look really good, as my jawline is already a bit different. Other people and my ortho have also told me that the gap will close in about 2-3 weeks after application of braces, which i get on next Wednesday. If you have any other questons, feel free to ask.

#1026 Post by **chicago29** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:15 am

I'm wondering what the "consensus" is with putting on braces post-SARPE surgery. It seems that some people have had them put on immediately after expansion stops, while others have to wait 2 or 3 months to let the jaws heal.

Is this the preference of the orthodontist or surgeon that dictates how long you need to live with the gap, sans braces?

It looks like I may be doing SARPE in very early 2009, and the gap is probably the thing that worries me most. I'm going to want that closed as quickly as possible!!!

#1027 Post by **sauerkraut** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:51 am

I had to wait several months after finishing expanding before having braces put on. I wonder if it perhaps has something to do with age? (I'm in my 40's) The older you are, the longer it takes for the bone to regenerate? Just a thought. Also, I expanded very quickly and I seem to remember reading somewhere that that can mean a longer regeneration time as well.

BUT although my gap was enormous it anyway closed by itself within a few weeks - long before the braces went on.

I'm not sure there are any ground rules for how quickly the gap comes and/or goes, and some people don't even get a gap at all so I can only say try not to worry about it too much. Easy for me to say now, I know, but for other people it honestly isn't as big a deal as it is for you. If they comment, just give a matter-of-fact explanation or even laugh it off then forget it. They'll soon lose interest.

Oh, and if it's really bothering you it is possible to disguise the gap a bit by fixing a "bridge" of wax going from the back of one front tooth to the other. It makes it less immediately obvious.

#1028 Post by **badbite** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:50 am

I had to wait until the expander was out. It just depends on your ortho. I still don't have my bottoms. I go today for spacers and get them next week. My surgery was 7 months ago.

My gap did not close for about three months (about the same time my top braces went on), but they were crooked and crossed. When my gap was 8mm, people were actually asking me how I lost my front teeth. I actually thought it was quite funny. It honestly was not that big a deal unless I was eating or trying to talk to people I didn't know onthe phone (expander lisp + gaping hole in front of mouth = mush mouth). The gap opened back up somewhat when braces were put on. The ortho says I'll most likely need to have my front teeth sahved to have them fit properly again, and I am okay with that because I trust him.

I was worried aout the gap before hand also, but now I knoe, it is defenately worth it. The ackward time goes so fast.

#1029 Post by **nazzila** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:49 am

hi friends !
i had SARPE surgery on sunday this week ! today is thursday ! tell me plzzz im really worried ! im completely swelled arund my lips and cheeks

arund my right eye theres bluish and it didnt go on its own till now plz tell me as how much time it takes to recover?? and sth else as my dentist started to rotate the expander the day after surgery !! its his fault , yes???

#1030 Post by **sauerkraut** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:59 am

Hi nazzila! Try not to worry

Your swelling and bruising sound quite normal to me. I'm sorry to say it can take several weeks to go down, but it will look less and less obvious, especially as the bruising fades.

And I started expanding within a day or two of surgery as well, so that sounds quite normal, too

. I don't think it's turning the expander that causes the swelling etc; it's the beating your face takes during the op.

Ice packs for the first day or two, then warm compresses after that, and sleeping upright all help, plus drink loads and exercise as much as you're allowed. I could only manage gentle walking for a week or two but every little helps.

Hang on in there!

#1031 Post by **nazzila** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:57 am

hi dear
sauerkraut
thnx for ur reply !! i really dnt knw but whn my OS found out tht the dentist started to tune he gor angry over it and call him as u shuldnt open the mouth before 1 week after surgery !!

are u sure abut several weeks???

my college will start on tuesday and im really nervous abut my appearance !!
dear how much time it will take tht pain go away and i get like my past !! im nt a patient girl at all n it makes me to lose my ctrl n time to time i cant stop my tears

#1032 Post by **sauerkraut** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 6:17 am

nazzila - you're welcome

. I hope I didn't make things worse for you! Being absolutely honest, I think you will still be looking somewhat beaten up come Tuesday. Try not to let it upset you: I'm sure you'll find people more understanding than you think. Laugh it off, if you can.

Yes, the swelling takes a long time to go down (or it did for me, anyway) but what you and others can actually see becomes hardly noticeable pretty quickly. I went on holiday within a month of my op, back to hillwalking and everything, and no-one gave me a second glance.

I do know how you feel. The first week is definitely the worst. I remember posting on here when I was around the stage you're at now - something like "OK, I'm tired of this game now." But it will pass. And it will all be worth it in the end

#1033 Post by **badbite** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:00 am

sauerkraut wrote:
I do know how you feel. The first week is definitely the worst. I remember posting on here when I was around the stage you're at now - something like "OK, I'm tired of this game now." But it will pass. And it will all be worth it in the end

Agreed. Couldn't have put it better.

#1034 Post by **Esoteric** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:38 am

So you have to expand 2 days after surgery? I was told by my OS that we do the surgery, heal for a week, then rapidly expand for a week, then heal for good. I didn't have any swelling past my upper lip and most of that went away in 7 days but it still felt bigger than normal.

#1035 Post by **badbite** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:32 am

Esoteric, Everyone is told different. I was told wait one week, then turn once a day. I turned for three 1/2 weeks once a day. Boy it seemed like forever at the time. It is all good now. I am still worried about my crossbite though. I get my bottoms on tomorrow and will ask the ortho yet again about it (he always reassures me).

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