SARPE - Keep getting conflicting info about closing the gap

[Collie]

Hi everybody! A little background on me: I had SARPE Feb 6th, so almost 4 weeks ago. I stopped turning my expander yesterday and I also got my braces on yesterday I turned twice a day for 3 weeks and my gap is huuuuuge! 10mm I believe. So I'm a little confused about when this gap is going to start closing. From a lot of blogs/people on here I was led to believe that as soon as you stop turning the expander, it'll start closing up. At various rates of speed of course. I asked my orthodontist about it yesterday-- well technically an ortho assistant, and she said that it'll close a little bit but not entirely without a power chain. that made sense to me. I saw my oral surgeon today and he said that as long as the palate expander is still in my mouth, the gap won't close AT ALL! yikes! I have this thing in my mouth for 6 more months! I can't walk around with a 10mm gap for that long. I hope he misunderstood my question because that seems outrageous. I know there have been threads on this topic but maybe there are some new people around that had SARPE more recently that could shed some light for me. I have the expander thats banded around my molars and I turned with a key, if that helps at all.

[Expandedmaxilla]

I had sarpe and had the expander for 6 months. In my case the gap started closing with the expander on.
And in most cases I think it's supposed to get closed by itself. Maybe in your case the expander won't allow it to happen. I don't know, I think you should ask the orthodontist.

[Braceurselvez]

I had SARPE and I too was concerned about the gap. I was very insecure for about 3 months. Once my orthodontist had gotten enough space and was comfortable with the room he needed, I was able to stop turning. I then got a new wire and slowly but surely, the space started to close. It took a few motnhs, but overall, went by quickly.

I had to keep a TPA at the roof of my mouth in order to keep the new width, and as my orthodontist moved teeth into the correct positions, the gap got smaller and smaller.

Hoping this goes by quickly for you!

[Raerae2639]

We are surgery buddies, I am two days behind you but I have had lots of complication. My orthodontist is going to put in a little fake tooth in the gap for me as the bone heals. When the gap starts to fill in they can take it out. Talking is rough with the gap and she said this will help me sound more normal.

[Collie]

We are surgery buddies, I am two days behind you but I have had lots of complication. My orthodontist is going to put in a little fake tooth in the gap for me as the bone heals. When the gap starts to fill in they can take it out. Talking is rough with the gap and she said this will help me sound more normal.

So sorry to hear you've had complications! I hope you're doing better now. Well I stopped turning a week and a half ago and I can confirm that the gap has not budged AT ALL I'm pretty bummed. I wish I was offered a fake tooth! My orthodontist doesn't seem to care too much, they're like "we'll get it closed up in time, don't worry". sigh. yes speaking is so so hard! I don't know why I thought this thing would magically start to close on its own as soon as my braces went on. definitely not the case. oh well