New and I don't know what to do!

[lillywag88]

So, I keep googling things about expanders and braces online and links to this website come up. I love reading about everyone's experience and advice so I have to post to remain a member. I'm not even sure if I'm doing it right.

Anyway, I have had my removable expander for two weeks now but I'm waiting for a new one, as this one has given me some trouble. So, it's holding the six turns I've already done until I get the new one which should be any day now, they're going to call when it's ready. The plan is to have the expander for 6 months to make room because of severe crowing on my upper teeth and a narrow palate. After that I'm supposed to have 6 months of metal braces. I'm 25 years old and I've hated my teeth for as long as I can remember. I really hope that everything goes as planned because I just want to be able to smile and laugh without covering my mouth. I'm sick of being so quiet just because I don't want people to see my teeth when I talk, it's a huge hindrance and lots of you know.

Anyone else have a removable expander? How did you like or hate it?

[SunshineRay]

I dont have any experience but wanted to say hi and welcome! You could post on the Metal Mouth board....I think that gets most of the traffic around here.

[Featheryy1221]

I don't have a removable expander, but I do have a bonded expander, so I know what you're going through.
At first I hated having an expander and broke down crying in the beginning because I couldn't pronounce anything and could barely eat anything at all. But after a few days, I got used to it. I've had my expander in for over a month now, and I really don't think it's too bad having an expander in. Sure there's still the negatives about it, but the fact that it's actually working for me makes all the negatives worth it.

As for not wanting to talk with it or show your teeth, I totally know what you mean. I look pretty ridiculous when I smile now, because my expander makes it so my teeth can't touch. Because of that my teeth look WAY worse than they did before. I've tried smiling without showing my teeth but that just looks weird. Basically, I've just had to get over the fact that I'm just going to look silly for six months and just embrace it.

Good luck with your journey! I hope everything works out for you!

[lillywag88]

Featheryy1221, how old are you? Like I said, I've only done 6 turns but it hads made room in the back so far, I can tell when I floss. I just got my new expander today and it's way bulkier than the last one (seems to fit better so far) so I'm talking pretty funny and I can't touch my teeth together either which is sooo weird.

I wish there were more people on here with the removable kind. I've seen a lot of success stories with the bonded ones but not the ones like mine. I guess that's to be expected since nonsurgical expansion in adults isn't that common. I'm just praying all goes well with this new one.

[cakemamma]

Hi lilywag,
I'm not much help with the expanders but I hope you do a braces story for your journey! I wish I'd had an expander as opposed to my four extractions as I notice face shape looks a lot better after expanders. I have an underbite and my first round of ortho has left me with a prominent chin, I'm pretty sure an expander would have had a better result... Anyway good luck and please update with progress!
Abi

[Featheryy1221]

Featheryy1221, how old are you? Like I said, I've only done 6 turns but it hads made room in the back so far, I can tell when I floss. I just got my new expander today and it's way bulkier than the last one (seems to fit better so far) so I'm talking pretty funny and I can't touch my teeth together either which is sooo weird.

I wish there were more people on here with the removable kind. I've seen a lot of success stories with the bonded ones but not the ones like mine. I guess that's to be expected since nonsurgical expansion in adults isn't that common. I'm just praying all goes well with this new one.

I'm 21. I didn't notice much change until around the second week, which is when I had 14 turns on it (I have to turn mine once a day). Check the roof of your mouth with a flashlight and mirror, and see if you can see a line down the center of your palate. The line will grow wider the more you turn it. That's one sign that it's working.

I'm glad that you got a new expander though! Hopefully that one works a lot better for you!

I hope someone with a removable expander sees this and you can see how it worked for them!

[cassiieh]

Hope it goes well for you!

[lillywag88]

[quote="cassiieh"]Hope it goes well for you![/quote]

Thank you!

[lillywag88]

So, it's been awhile, I don't know if anyone even cares but the expander did not work for me (I'm 26). It just did some tipping of the teeth like I feared. So, I ended up having a tooth extracted. I've had some IPR and might eventually have some bonding done to even out my smile since 1 tooth extraction is kind of uneven and my midline is off. Oh, and I got my braces on March 27th and the tooth pulled on April 16th. Once the tooth was pulled I saw big changes right away. Because I'm doing "accelerated braces", they should be off by the end of the year.

[lillywag88]

Pictures

[braced159]

Wow, that's amazing progress!

[SpottedPickle]

Sorry to hear the expander didn't work, but your smile it looking great so far!

[Matilda]

Great progress!

[Anna5]

Great progress!!!
I am sorry that your expander didn't work, but you have a nice smile! Your palate doesn't seem narrow to me, or do you have a crossbite? I wish you very good luck with your treatment!

[lillywag88]

Great progress!!!
I am sorry that your expander didn't work, but you have a nice smile! Your palate doesn't seem narrow to me, or do you have a crossbite? I wish you very good luck with your treatment!

Thank you!....Yep, I have a crossbite!