Tips for wearing expander

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e77
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:15 pm

Tips for wearing expander

#1 Post by e77 »

So I get the rapid palatal expander put in on Friday Jan 11. I am extremely nervous about wearing it. Does anyone have any tips or tricks on getting used to it? How long did it take you to adjust to talking and eating?

redwine
Posts: 171
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:19 am
Location: Annapolis, MD

Re: Tips for wearing expander

#2 Post by redwine »

Still getting used to it. The first few days, before the surgery, I sang in the car on my way to and from work. That helped with the speech a lot.
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Dolphinbite
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2013 8:48 pm

Re: Tips for wearing expander

#3 Post by Dolphinbite »

HI -

Don't be nervous! I had the SARPE surgery and it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. In fact, I did so well that I made a video 1 day after the surgery: http://www.happygoplucky. com/my-blog/2012/07/the-first-jaw-surgery-sarpe-.html (take away the space between hapygoplucky. and com - can't post links here)

I wrote about my whole SARPE experience on my blog and there are also lots of pics.

Let me know if you have any questions :)

Brandi

teddy13
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: Tips for wearing expander

#4 Post by teddy13 »

You should talk, sing, and practice reading a book out loud as much as you can in order to get used to your expanders. Are you getting both top and bottom expanders? I got used to my top expanders after a week of getting it since I got them before my lower expanders. I had a really hard time with my lower expanders since it didn't fit properly due to a missing canine so it would poke out when I would talk and people could see it as it would rub against the bottom of my tongue. I've had my expanders for about 7 months now, and I still have problems with pronouncing some words that contain the letter "S".

I hope all goes well with your expansion!

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