Getting palatal expander TOMORROW!

Message

#1 Post by **Zameera** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:47 pm

I guess tomorrow is the day. I'm going to REALLY brush my teeth until they are thoroughly clean.

Wish me luck, everybody. I wish it'll not hurt!

Thanks,
Zameera

#2 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:44 am

Good luck. It should just slot right on perfectly and not hurt at all, so nothing to worry about. My first one didn't fit though, and let me tell ya- that did hurt because my ortho thought she'd try and wedge it in anyway. I had tears in my eyes that day

.

And I'm saying this because you will probably see this when you get back from having it placed, so I can't freak you out

#3 Post by **mottsrods** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:58 am

Good Luck Zameera........Hope it all goes well............

#4 Post by **Zameera** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:21 am

KK wrote:All the best for tomorrow Zameera!

It's good you're going to take great care of your oral hygiene. Remember flossing is as important as brushing. Plus be careful not to over brush and brush your gums very gently!

Here's to your p-day going real well!

Ok! Thanks!

crazybeautiful wrote:Good luck. It should just slot right on perfectly and not hurt at all, so nothing to worry about. My first one didn't fit though, and let me tell ya- that did hurt because my ortho thought she'd try and wedge it in anyway. I had tears in my eyes that day .

And I'm saying this because you will probably see this when you get back from having it placed, so I can't freak you out

Yea, when my ortho was taking impression (which was a week ago) with the metal band in, OUCH! I was like AHH! She had to change the metal band to another size several times. She said it was because my teeth were still tender & by the time she fits the expander in, it won't hurt that much. I hope so.

Thanks by the way!

mottsrods wrote:Good Luck Zameera........Hope it all goes well............

THANKS!

#5 Post by **Zameera** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:09 pm

OMG I'm a lisper freak!

#6 Post by **Zameera** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:13 am

KK wrote:Zameera, hopefully the lisping won't last long!

I've not had an expander, but here's a passage I've read is great for people with appliances and speech issues.

The Rainbow Passage ... This is a great tool used by many speech pathologists. It contains most of the sounds and phonetic combinations in the English language. Repeat this several times a day out loud. Itâ€™s great practice for getting your tongue used to talking around foreign appliances.

The Rainbow Passage

When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air, they act like a prism and form a rainbow. The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colours. These take the shape of a long round arch, with its path high above, and its two ends apparently beyond the horizon. There is, according to legend, a boiling pot of gold at one end. People look, but no one ever finds it. When a man looks for something beyond his reach, his friends say he is looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Plus take great care of your mouth. Warm salt water rinses are both soothing and healing! Keep smiling!

WOW! Thanx KK! I'm reading it right now. Also, I'm having trouble swallowing. I can barely eat!

#7 Post by **LilyU** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:16 pm

Zameera....my son got his expander on Monday and is having trouble swallowing and eating too. Took him 2 days to learn how to drink without dribbling!!

Good luck....I hope it goes well for you!

Lily

#8 Post by **Zameera** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:32 pm

LilyU wrote:Zameera....my son got his expander on Monday and is having trouble swallowing and eating too. Took him 2 days to learn how to drink without dribbling!!

Good luck....I hope it goes well for you!

Lily

Drinking is not a problem for me. Anyway, I'm getting better at swallowing. Yay! I'm still working on my speech though.. Thanks!

#9 Post by **Zameera** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:42 am

Anyone know what should I do with cheek lesions? They're hurting! Ouch, ouch, ouch!!! Nothing seems to work right now. Tried Bonjela (some kind of gel for teething & mouth ulcers). Didn't work. Salt water rinses didn't work either.

#10 Post by **Zameera** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:26 am

KK wrote:Zameera sorry you have a sore mouth!

First, make sure whatever is causing the rubbing, is coverd with wax. Otherwise you won't be able to heal in that area.

Next ... rinsing with warm salt water several times a day helps most people, but it's not instant, as this is a healing pocess, so you need to be patient and make sure the area is kept free of irritation. My ortho recommends doing these rinses from before you start treatment, till your treatment is over.

Also ... baking soda and hydrogen peroxide should help.
Baking Soda and Water: Swish with baking soda and water several times a day can aid in healing mouth sores.
Baking Soda/Hydrogen Peroxide: 1/8 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp hydrogen peroxide in 4 oz water. For mouth sores.
http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/treatment/mouthcare.html
A numbing and antiseptic gel/cream like bonjela should help. Plus check what you're rinsing your mouth with. If you have mouth sores, it's best to not use a mouth rinse with alchol. Colgate peroxyl is good if your mouth is sore.

Your vitamin and mineral intake is also important. This helps your body not to stress and also aids healing.

Keep working at it and hopefully they will heal very soon!

THANKS, again!!! They're starting to heal!

#11 Post by **AliKat** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:32 am

Ive just been to my ortho and been told Im getting an expander - so wasn't expecting this!!

He's not putting it on till after Christmas which i suppose is a good thing!! Im getting it done the same time as my 6 week check up so he'll change my wire and ligs then put the expander in, ill be having a few painfull days i think

How long are they usually in for, does anyone know?? He said about 4 months, really hope there is a difference to my smile, the reason im getting all this done is for my wedding in August so I hope this will all be worth it!!

#12 Post by **AliKat** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:06 am

Thanks Karen!!!!!

#13 Post by **Zameera** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:30 pm

AliKat wrote:Ive just been to my ortho and been told Im getting an expander - so wasn't expecting this!! He's not putting it on till after Christmas which i suppose is a good thing!! Im getting it done the same time as my 6 week check up so he'll change my wire and ligs then put the expander in, ill be having a few painfull days i think

How long are they usually in for, does anyone know?? He said about 4 months, really hope there is a difference to my smile, the reason im getting all this done is for my wedding in August so I hope this will all be worth it!!

When I first got my expander, I thought it was going to be painful to turn the key. Surprisingly, it's not as painful as I expected! After each turn, you will feel pressure & it doesn't hurt. Just pressure for about 15 minutes or less, then you'll feel normal!

As for how long they should be in, it depends. For me, my ortho didn't mention about how long it should be in but she did mention I should turn the key twice a day for 14 days & then go for a checkup. But that 4 months period you said is definitely not the turning period. Maybe you should turn the key for 14 days like me (or probably longer because I'm 14) and then leave it in for 3 months. :biggrin:

Good luck, AliKat!

#14 Post by **AliKat** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:58 am

Do all expanders require you to "turn a key"???:shock:

I dont really know much about them as my ortho hasn't went in to much detail about them, he just said for me to get a wider smile!

#15 Post by **Zameera** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:00 am

AliKat wrote:Do all expanders require you to "turn a key"???:shock:

I dont really know much about them as my ortho hasn't went in to much detail about them, he just said for me to get a wider smile!

Turn the key? Of course! That's what makes it "expand" your palate. It pushes the two halves of the jaw away from each other. This actually makes the jaw larger. Sound painful eh? Surprisingly not!

If you feel sore, the best advice is to use the teeth as soon as possible and to TAKE IBUPROFEN as prescribed on the package. Do not bother with Tylenol since most studies have found it to be ineffective for orthodontic discomfort.

Best of luck,
Zameera