Rapid Palatal Expander anyone????

[mamamary]

Hi. My DS (11) got his bottom braces yesterday - no problem. Then he got the expander put on the top of his mouth. Oh boy. I feel very bad for him. He is not one to complain but he is really uncomfortable. It's sore but it's more of the "It's hard to swallow" kind of thing. He has to wear it for at least 7 months. I called the office this morning just to make sure that they feel he will get used to it soon. They said usually by a week the kids adjust. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I think it would help my son to know some stories from other kids (only the good stories though ).

Thanks.

Mary

 

[GJM]

Honestly I don't get the whole expander thing, my 2 neices did have it and it was painful for them at times. It hurt when my sister had to turn the key. I am sure he will get use to it. My braces bothered me in the beginning, but you get use to it, then when they are taken off you mouth feels weird because you can feel your teeth.

I understand they don't like to pull teeth anymore, when I had braces many years ago I had 2 teeth pulled on the top when I got braces, I have had no bad effects from it.

I was so upset when I had braces but I can honestly say it was the best thing ever. My teeth are straight now and I have always got compliments.

Wishing you DS the best!

 

[CathrynRose]

Hi. My DS (11) got his bottom braces yesterday - no problem. Then he got the expander put on the top of his mouth. Oh boy. I feel very bad for him. He is not one to complain but he is really uncomfortable. It's sore but it's more of the "It's hard to swallow" kind of thing. He has to wear it for at least 7 months. I called the office this morning just to make sure that they feel he will get used to it soon. They said usually by a week the kids adjust. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I think it would help my son to know some stories from other kids (only the good stories though ).

Thanks.

Mary

Theyre horrible, and I hated mine. I had it in my 20's - maybe 24. God those things suck.

In addition to the lovely pain of the roof of your mouth, your tounge gets 'chapped' from not being able to keep it moist via roof of mouth. I swear to God, a few times in the winter I rubbed vaseline on it out of pure desperation. If I ate anything salty, or spicy - it BURNED!!!

You also talk funny for a while too. That was fun! I sounded like a freak. And I had to waitress that night. Its funny now, but OMG. I dreaded when they'd ask - What dressing do you have?Ask your son to say 'Tangy Tomato' with it in.

They suck - but they work. He will get used to swallowing and talking. But I will say THAT thing was WAY worse then the braces themselves.

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

I had one. It wasn't too bad. It definitely was very weird to have it in my mouth initially, but your mouth adapts to it. After the initial "getting used to" it really only hurt when I turned the key. It was a little odd to talk but it wasn't prohibitive. The only time it was really annoying was when I got food stuck in it.... He probably shouldn't eat carrots, haha.....

Good luck! It just takes a little getting used to but it isn't so bad.

 

[mamamary]

You're right about the talking. DS sound freaky yest. I tried to get him to say Suzie Sells Seashells by the Seashore but all I got was a dirty look. Next week he has his spring concert in school. Can't imagine he'll sing or play his saxophone too well. Why didn't I wait till summertime??????

 

[december]

This scares me. I've already been told by our dentist that dd8 will need one-I had never heard of it. I know braces are a necessity for her-her front tooth have a huge gap and one sticks straight out. It isn't bothering her yet, but kids are mean. I just changed jobs, and the dental ins. won't cover it for awhile, so we had to put it off. She is a drama queen, so if it is this painful I'm glad we are waiting until next summer!

 

[Tinkerbelle'sMOM]

Tell him my DD wore one for over a year....it was rough at first, but after about a week she was fine They adapt pretty quickly, much more so than older teens LOL After she got that out, she had to get what is called a CBJ appliance put in to help push her jaw forward by 6 mm (that is alot), that was horrible for about 2 weeks, but once again, it just became part of her. She also had an expander on the bottom and she said that has been the worst thing so far in her 5 year journey in orthodontia (she is 12). The changes in her face and mouth are pretty remarkable. She also isn't getting the headaches she used to from her bite being so off.

I'd rather all this non-invasive procedures than having to go thru tooth pulling and jaw surgery. Most orthos really don't want to pull good teeth, and I have to agree. Why risk infection and all that?

Tell him it will be fine I think it bothered me more to have to crank the darn thing than it bothered her....we just loaded up with Motrin before the cranking and she was fine

 

[LakeAriel]

My daughter had that done at age 12. It was hard at first and sounds brutal but she did adapt..Her teeth overlapped, were crowded, pushed backwards, forwards etc..They were awful! Here they are now..

Good luck!

 

[momto2girls]

My DD7.5 will be getting one and I am DREADING it. I hate that she is going to be in so much pain. I have already told my husband that there is no way that I am turning that key and that he is going to be in charge of that.

I'm just so sad for her that she has to have one. It looks like her little sister's bite is fine so she'll be able to avoid it. It seems so unfair when one of my kids seems to have all of the "problems" and the other one avoids all of it.

 

[Jennabeth]

My DD (8) got one in Jan. It didn't have a key for me to turn, it was like a spring and constantly applied a little bit of pressure. She didn't seem to have any mouth pain (at this age the palate isn't fused together so it moved easier) and by that night she had a gap in her front teeth. The hardest part was talking, but within a few days she was able to adapt.

Her expander will be removed at the end of this month, so she had it for 5 months. I figures it's probably going to take her a few days to adapt to speaking without it in her mouth.

I have to say it was WORTH IT! She lost two of her top teeth last year and they hadn't come in yet because there was no room. The ortho wanted to get the mouth widened before those teeth started to come in in the wrong place (behind or in front of the others). Those teeth have started to come in now that we have room and they look so nice. If we had waited until they were in to fix them it would have been much more difficult.

 

[Galahad]

My Son had one at age 9 or so - several years ago. It was certainly unpleasant for him (and me, getting the be the one inflicting the pain). But it's true that the worst of it is over in a week or 10 days. The long term results are more that worth it! It really isn't that long they have to put up with it - even related to just their whole braces treatment - certainly when related to the longer term.

 

[lewdyan1]

My DD has had one for 10 months now and aside from the initail drooling, it's not been a problem. Only certain foods seem to get stuck up there, or so she says, funny thing it's the healthy stuff,(broccoli, cantalope...).

 

[mamamary]

Thanks everyone. I will tell my son all the success stories. I know it will be worth it but it's hard seeing him so uncomfortable.

Mary

 

[krcit]

My dd had one put in in June and had it until November. The first few days were a bit rough. Give him some Tylenol and turn it at night. My dd ate only soft food for a few days-soups, pastina, mashed potatoes. It took her a couple of days to get used to it. She drooled a bit those first few days but after that it was no big deal. She has braces on now and her teeth are already looking great! Tell your ds to hang in there-it gets better really soon.

 

[Mkaz]

My ds 8 has a rpe. They are uncomfortable, but they are horrible. We gave our son Tylenol which helped. He is used to it now. He hasn't complained since we stopped turning it.

After my son's R.P.E. was put in he ended up having his eye teeth (on the bottom) removed so they can put in the lip bumper. He will be getting that some time down the line. The tooth extraction was a lot worse than the R.P.E.

I just keep telling my son that there are times when we have to do things that we don't want to (or don't like) do in order to get a good result. I just keep reminding him of how nice his teeth are going to look.

 

[RitaZ.]

DS#1 didn't need one when he had his braces, or so I assumed. I figured that DS#2 would definitely need an expander. When I told the orthodontist about my concerns, he told me not to worry because he rarely orders it for his patients. He said that there are other ways to achieve the same results without having his patients go through all the pain. DS#1 has been done with the braces for about 1.5 yr. now, only wears his retainers at night. His teeth are perfect. DS#2 is about half way through the treatment and his teeth are looking great so far. Anyway, I figured that orthodontists routinely ordered expanders for their patients. I'm really glad that ours doesn't.

OP, I hope your son will get some relief soon.

 

[december]

Talk about timing. When I said I just changed jobs-I meant I'm still in the process of changing jobs. I'm finishing out the school year as a long term sub, and will be a fulltime teacher in August. They brought me the paper work today. There are 2 dental plans. One is basic-<$70 a month for all 4 of us, but pays no orthodontia. The Preferred plan is $101, and pays some orthodontia, but has a life time max of $1000 and a TWO year waiting pd (I was expecting one). I don't see paying over $30 a month extra and making her wait 2 years (by then she'll be starting middle school and the kids will be meaner) just to save $1000. I'm going to get her to an orthodontist this summer (dentist recommended 2 at her last check up) and ask about payment plans.

So while I'm on a thread with all you experts, what is the price range I should be expecting for the expander and braces? Just so I don't pass out when he tells me!

 

[mamamary]

Talk about timing. When I said I just changed jobs-I meant I'm still in the process of changing jobs. I'm finishing out the school year as a long term sub, and will be a fulltime teacher in August. They brought me the paper work today. There are 2 dental plans. One is basic-<$70 a month for all 4 of us, but pays no orthodontia. The Preferred plan is $101, and pays some orthodontia, but has a life time max of $1000 and a TWO year waiting pd (I was expecting one). I don't see paying over $30 a month extra and making her wait 2 years (by then she'll be starting middle school and the kids will be meaner) just to save $1000. I'm going to get her to an orthodontist this summer (dentist recommended 2 at her last check up) and ask about payment plans.

So while I'm on a thread with all you experts, what is the price range I should be expecting for the expander and braces? Just so I don't pass out when he tells me!

I'll give you an idea of what I'm paying since I have all the paperwork right in front of me. In my son's case they are charging $5,408 plus $357 for records. After my insurance I'm paying $1,590. I had to pay upfront for the "records". Then yest. when he got the braces and expander I paid another $400. Then in July I'll get monthly payment of $50.

One thing I want to mention is that I went to two other orthodontists right in the same neighborhood and they were both alot more money. The first one didn't take my plan so he was out. Then the 2nd one was a little less money but still alot more than I am paying now. I went with my current ortho. because they are also going to be our general dentist and I thought it would be convenient. Hope that gives you an idea.

 

[LBAK]

My DD was 8 when she got her expander. The 2 weeks that we had to turn it were rough but other then that it wasn't a problem. She had it on for 9 months. Then she had braces for 2 years and her teeth are beautiful now! It was $1700 for the palate expander and $4000 for the braces. I paid about $200 a month. I didn't have dental insurance. Worth every penny!

 

[mom2jennris]

My dd (10) got hers in 3 weeks ago. It didn't bother her at all except for talking and sometimes getting food stuck. We go this afternoon to see what the next steps are. I'm guessing based on the gap in her front teeth now that we'll get to stop turning the key. I kept asking her if it hurt when we turned the key, but she said it was just a little pressure.