Anyone have experience with a palate extender???

[SandiH]

My 8 year old has a cross bite and small palate. Anyone lived through a palate extender? He's very sensitive to pain and I'm afraid this will be a nightmare for him.

Oh how I can't wait until the ortho appointment.

 

[Nala56]

My dd had palete spreader twice. She had two phases for her braces. She did well the spreader, it really wasn't that bad. My dh was the one who turned the key every night. Even with the spreader twice her mouth was still too small, so had to have two adult teeth pulled. She just got her braces off and she has the most beautiful smile. It was worth all the headaches.

 

[SandiH]

Thanks for the input. How long did she have to wear the extender?

 

[texasthree]

I had a palate extender. It wasnt pleasant but not that painful either. I think I wore it for about 3 or 4 months. The big gap between my front teeth was painful in the self image department but the mouth pain was bearable.

 

[minkydog]

My oldest child had upper and lower palate expanders. It wasn't terribly painful, but is could be uncomfortable. There for awhile he lived on oatmeal, milkshakes,and Motrin. Of course, he was pretty happy when the expanders did their work in his little tiny mouth and he didn't have to have any teeth pulled.

 

[Katy Belle]

My DS had one when he was 8. It really was a non-issue pain wise. The first day he took tylenol and that was it. I think his turned 1/4 of a mm a day, very little, and it really didn't bother him. Make sure they let you practice turning it once in the office.

Good luck!
Katy

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i had one when i was a child. it wasn't too bad.

some days were worse than others. nothing tylenol wouldn't cure.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I had one when I was 14 for about 6 months. Yes it hurt and was a little difficult to talk at time. Getting it out was a nightmare. But I survived. I certainly wouldn't subject a small child to it unless is was absolutely necessary.

 

[Skatermom23]

I had one when I was 14 for about 6 months. Yes it hurt and was a little difficult to talk at time. Getting it out was a nightmare. But I survived. I certainly wouldn't subject a small child to it unless is was absolutely necessary.

Actually it is easier on a young child to have this than an older one. The younger childs mouth is still growing and therefore easier to manipulate. My DD had one about age 8 or 9 and I think it was harder on me than her. I had to turn the key nightly!

 

[disneygals]

My dd had one for about 6 months, no major problems. The hardest part was the goo they used to mold it. She had a cross-bite and it completely corrected it.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

My dd has a crossbite, but her teeth are as straight as can be. Would a palate expander be fine for this, or does she really have to go through the whole braces. We do not have Dental insurance. The crossbite has gotten better over time on its own - by the way she is 11. She has great teeth otherwise - no cavities, and like I said very straight.

 

[disneygals]

They handle braces differently now. A palate expander may be all that she needs. My dd had the expander at 9, then nothing for years, then did need braces for crooked teeth. My youngest had her front teeth grow in behind her baby ones, so she had a short term of braces (at age 8) to move her front teeth up. She goes back every 6 months for a check and may or may not need more when all her adult teeth are in.

 

[geffric]

My oldest son had one and we called it the rack he got to have ice cream daily right after i turned it . In the end he said it never really hurt but he didn't want to tell me as he liked have unlimited ice cream daily.. LOL

 

[monarchsfan16]

My sister had one when she was in second grade (9 years ago). She found it very painful. Or so she said. I know trying to turn the key was a huge production every night. Mom finally took to sitting on my sister's feet to hold her down so she could turn the key.
The biggest issue though was that food would get caught in it. I clearly remember my sister choking on pizza cheese when it got wrapped around the expander

 

[goofy4tink]

Dd has her palate expander when she was 6!! Poor thing. Then she went on to have three different sets of braces, as well as a retainer. She will be 13 next week, is looking at the light at the end of the tunnel...braces should be coming off right after CHristmas!!!
She really didn't have too much problem with her expander. It made her talk funny and we had to be careful about what she ate. But for the most part, she took it in stride!!

 

[Hedy]

A friend had one, and I'm going to add that I would most likely think twice about it. She could not talk (she was in a play the next day), she was in pain, her parent once didn't turn it right and it got stuck.

 

[disykat]

My 6th grader has one right now. Other than a few days at the beginning when I couldn't get the darn key to turn (it was off kilter and I didn't know what I was doing enough to fix it), it wasn't a big deal. It definately affects his speech though - doing it during a time when no play performances are planned would be important! He is taking it in stride because so many of his friends have had them. Definately make sure they let you practice turning the key before you go home!

My older child also had an "expander". It was different - no key turning.

 

[chrissyk]

I had one when I was around 9 years-old. It hurt, but it was like a dull ache rather than sharp pain. I did feel pressure for a bit after the key was turned. On the bright side, it worked like a charm!

 

[scraptoons]

My DD has one. No complaints here.

My brother/dentist says kids are really very good at adapting to these.

I remember a little soreness with my braces in jr high. It's nothing compared to what life throws at ya through the years.

It's a right of passage.

He is not the first kid nor the last kid to experience pain or discomfort.

Give him some tyenol and talk about how great his smile is going to be one day.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My 14yo son has one on now. He is not doing bad with it. At first the dentice put spacers between his teeth for a week to make room to fit the pallette expander. Than the pallette expander went in and 2 weeks later is when we got the key to turn it We turned for for a week.. her ended up with a space between his front teeth but now he is fine. It will stay in until January and than braces will go on his upper teeth.

Overall he was not in alot of pain. He did say he felt pressure where I turned the key. He did bother his speech at first but now you cant even tell he has it in.