Palatal Expanders

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#46 Post by **suzyscientist** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:32 pm

P.S. Everyone talks about the difficulty speaking with the expander. I take it that if it's hard to speak, it would be hard to sing, right?

I'm a part-time singer and have half a dozen weddings to do this summer. Looks like I might need a stand-in

#47 Post by **DrBlur** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:36 pm

suzyscientist wrote: DrBlur - how long does your ortho expect you to turn the expander? Like months?[/b]

He didn't say...he said 3 times a day as soon as the OS says I can start after the SARPE surgery, and the ortho wants to see me weekly until it's to his satisfaction. I think he mentioned that after the expander comes out (whenever that is) he will put in some rigid wires that will go across the roof of my mouth to keep the teeth in place while the braces do their thing...I'll ask him more specific questions next week when I get the braces and expander installed

#48 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:52 pm

suzyscientist wrote:P.S. Everyone talks about the difficulty speaking with the expander. I take it that if it's hard to speak, it would be hard to sing, right?

I'm a part-time singer and have half a dozen weddings to do this summer. Looks like I might need a stand-in

It's certain sounds that are difficult. For instance you might find you lisp, or some sounds where normally your tongue touches the roof of your mouth will be inhibited, for example 'k' sounds

#49 Post by **suzyscientist** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:11 pm

Thanks folks

I always have a stand-in so singing isn't a big deal, it's only a few £££. I'm just SO impatient!

Suzy

#50 Post by **DrBlur** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:15 pm

I love to sing myself (used to be in a band) and I sing constantly in the car, at home, so I'm sad to hear it'll affect me! Also, I do a LOT of talking at work, so that's gonna be interesting...

#51 Post by **suzyscientist** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:36 pm

I sing in a few choirs and do weddings and parties on the side. Not my day job though so it's not important for income, just for fun and sanity lol

I am hoping that people can learn to talk/ sing around it... I talked funny for the first few days of braces but I think I sound normal now... so maybe once you get used to it the effect goes?

I hope so!

#52 Post by **suzyscientist** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:37 pm

P.S. What kinda band?

#53 Post by **DrBlur** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:47 pm

I used to be in a rock band (until my PhD studies got to be too much)...I was the guitarist/singer/songwriter...I miss it, but I still make music, just on the side now

#54 Post by **CanberraRaiders** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:22 am

suzyscientist wrote:OMG Canberra that looks amazing. How long did that take?

Got my expander on the 18/01/2010 so nearing 3 months now. I'm lucky I got that much expansion. My ortho suggested surgery too but I didn't want to have it so I went with just the expander & hoped for the best. You can clearly get results without surgery and I'm sure there are plenty of people here that can attest to that. But in saying that maybe some cases require both surgery and expanders??

On the topic of expanders effecting speech, my personal experience so far was the first couple of weeks my speech was a little of with a slight lisp. From then onwards my speech has gotten almost to the point where its normal but some words are just stubborn and the lisp pops out every now and then. Good luck singing with an expander!

#55 Post by **psych braces** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:55 pm

Im a little confused about the expander...some say palatal expanders are not effective for adults.

#56 Post by **DrBlur** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:52 am

psych braces wrote:Im a little confused about the expander...some say palatal expanders are not effective for adults.

They are, but often require surgery to *make* them be effective, as adult bones are fused and not able to moved as easily as teenager bones, for example

#57 Post by **Chicagogal** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:23 am

I've now had my hyrax for 5 months (march 2010-August2010). My ortho apparently got the expansion he wanted without surgery or tipping, but I just found out that I have to wear the expander throughout the duration of braces

my mouth is going to be FULL! why oh why?

i should be happy at the progress, I know. I just dont want even MORE places for food to get stuck haha.

#58 Post by **CanberraRaiders** » Sun Aug 08, 2010 5:30 am

Chicagogal wrote:I've now had my hyrax for 5 months (march 2010-August2010). My ortho apparently got the expansion he wanted without surgery or tipping, but I just found out that I have to wear the expander throughout the duration of braces my mouth is going to be FULL! why oh why?

i should be happy at the progress, I know. I just dont want even MORE places for food to get stuck haha.

The whole time!!!??!?!?! that sucks!! did your ortho say why? Mine just got replaced with normal brackets placed on the molars (which seems to be the norm?).

The day my expander was yanked out a couple of weeks ago was one of the most liberating days of my life. It was 6 months of hell & so much worse than braces.

#59 Post by **DrBlur** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 5:55 am

I just got my expander put back in on Friday in preparation for the surgery...forgot how much of a pain it was to talk and eat and clean!

#60 Post by **Chicagogal** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:53 am

CanberraRaiders wrote:
Chicagogal wrote:I've now had my hyrax for 5 months (march 2010-August2010). My ortho apparently got the expansion he wanted without surgery or tipping, but I just found out that I have to wear the expander throughout the duration of braces my mouth is going to be FULL! why oh why?

i should be happy at the progress, I know. I just dont want even MORE places for food to get stuck haha.
The whole time!!!??!?!?! that sucks!! did your ortho say why? Mine just got replaced with normal brackets placed on the molars (which seems to be the norm?).

The day my expander was yanked out a couple of weeks ago was one of the most liberating days of my life. It was 6 months of hell & so much worse than braces.

oh yes, it sucks. haha, now my mouth is literally full of equipment. My ortho wants to make absolutely sure that during the first few months of moving my teeth around with braces, that the work the expander did isn't undone. One he's sure, he says that he'll take it out and replace with normal brackets. hope that is soon, but who knows....i suppose i'd rather keep it around if it means i wont have to EVER do it again.