Metal Mouth Message Board

Sorry, new to this experience... what exacatly does SARPE stand for? I just started the braces process about 3 weeks ago - after 18 months I will have surgery to have my lower jaw moved forward, then 6 more months of braces. Kinda nervous overall, but counting on it to fix my problems!

Hi heartstrings and welcome

SARPE is surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion -- for adults (usually) whose upper jaw is too narrow. In the operation, the seam where the palate joins together is cracked open coconut style; the patient has a metal expander fixed to their teeth and after the op over a period of days or weeks they turn a special key to widen the expander and hence the jaw.

But if you're having your lower jaw moved forward you probably don't need to worry about it! You're more likely to be getting BSSO (bilateral surgical split osteotomy). That's where they cut the jaw bone in a couple of places then slide the pieces around until they've got the correct position then fix it with metal plates.

Please excuse my super-scientific (ahem) explanations . I've been using this forum for a long time but am nowhere near as knowledgeable as many on here.

I've had SARPE already and will be having BSSO (also to move my lower jaw forward) at some point in the future. At the rate my treatment's gone so far that could well be 18 months hence so please stick around and we'll compare notes when the time comes

PS sorry, that should be bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for BSSO. (Oh, for an edit function!!)