maxillary arch expander

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#1 Post by **mdbo** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:32 pm

can any one help. i have a maxillary arch - it is so low in my mouth my toungue cannot pronounce words. food has to go over the top of it to swallow, i have so much saliva and cannot swallow properly with my tongue and the back of my tounge looks yukky. I am getting groves in the front of my toung - i need this for 3 months ----is it normal has anyone else had the same/

#2 Post by **felicia** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:49 pm

Correct me if I'm wrong: YOU HAVE A PALATAL EXPANDER ( an appliance on the roof of your mouth to expand your palate)?
If you do, then don't worry, you'll get used with it, you will learn how to swallow, how to talk, after a while there won't be that much saliva in your mouth either.
I have an expander for about 4 months now, and I got so used with it, I feel like it's been in my mouth all my life....and I believe that I,m gonna start talking funny when my orthodontist will take it out in 2 months

#3 Post by **mdbo** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:19 am

yes it is a palate expander - to make room for crowded teeth before i am braced. it has been 4 days and i have to talk alot at work and cannot say things right or without heaps of spit- i am glad it gets better!

#4 Post by **mdbo** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:19 am

yes it is a palate expander - to make room for crowded teeth before i am braced. it has been 4 days and i have to talk alot at work and cannot say things right or without heaps of spit- i am glad it gets better!

#5 Post by **BenB** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:09 am

I had a quad helix which is a different type of expander, I spoke really funny for about 2-3 weeks and also had the saliva issue. After a while I forgot it was even there and it was second nature and felt weird when I got it cut out.

Keep persisting and see how you go, they work really well and for people with crowding issues like you and I they are essential.

#6 Post by **mdbo** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:13 pm

9 days in and it is improving - still get a sore tongue from talking after a day at work - but much clearer this week than last! Thanks so much for your help - it will be worth it. You must be close to the end of your treatment - bet your happy - hope it has gone well?

#7 Post by **dawnmarie** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:33 am

I had a palatal expander for nearly 7 months...should have been only 4 but ortho scheduling didn't work out... Anyways, the first few days I couldn't talk without gagging and the spit was the biggest problem. I found that drinking cold water helped a lot. Just a word of warning when it's time to take out the expander....the top of your mouth will be tender to temperature so it's best not to eat anything overly hot since it had 'insulation' for months on it. My waterpik was a lifesaver for stuck foods. The time will fly by...

#8 Post by **jjrp434** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:23 pm

Hang in there! You should be able to get used to it in a few weeks time. Just a side note: some people may develop a temporary space between their front teeth during the expansion process. Your orthodontist will then close it later, or sometimes, it'll just close in its own.