Dental Work.....Expander

[Steena]

My special need 9 year old son may have to get an expander to make more room for a couple of his teeth. those of you that know a thing or two about these, can you give some information? He has to get impressions taken next week, but my question is is this an aparatus that can be taken out or is it permanently in the mouth? If it is too extensive, I may opt to skip it since I am not certain he can handle a lot of dental work.

[Mom2myboys]

A palette expander? I had one when I was 11, for almost a year. It stays in its place with metal bands around the back molars. There is a "key" you use to turn it so many times per day. I really wasn't all that bad although it made me slur. ;)

[buttrfli]

My special need 9 year old son may have to get an expander to make more room for a couple of his teeth. those of you that know a thing or two about these, can you give some information? He has to get impressions taken next week, but my question is is this an aparatus that can be taken out or is it permanently in the mouth? If it is too extensive, I may opt to skip it since I am not certain he can handle a lot of dental work.

Is it similar to a space maintainer? I had one when I was 10 and there was really nothing to it. It was very similar to the above post except I didn't have to turn it.

As far as not knowing if your son can handle the work, talk to his dentist and see if he can give him a little gas. My 9 y/o DD also has disabilities and her dentist will gas her if she needs work done because she has CAPD and can't handle the noises.

My thinking is that it would only take a few minutes to put the expander in because all they really have to do is slip it over his teeth and cement it in place. Then he will have to show you how to work it, but it shouldn't take long.

[freeplease]

My DD had one before her braces. It isn't any big deal, and it does work. You might want to give him some tylenol beforehand. But then, I always give tylenol beforehand. lol I hate dental procedures, and tend to erron the cautious side.

[lavena1975]

my daughter is going next month for the same thing.. she is almost 8 cost is going to be $1,120.00 but thank god they are letting me make payments:)

[keen9801]

I haven't read previous posts so forgive me if I repeat.

I had a expander when I got my braces...they are little rubber bands like that the put in between the back teeth, this will move those teeth further apart so that there is room for the braces bracket to fit properly for the back teeth.

They are not permanant, now I have to say they hurt like HECK! Not going in but the next day OMGAWD it was horrible, I couldn't even eat a ice cream sandwich, it took 3 days before I could eat again. but when they are ready to put the braces on they will take them out. I hope this helps or even I hope this was what you were talking about.

[sdmay3]

I have a quad helix expander in right now. I don't have to adjust it or anything. The worst part was the spacers they put in a few weeks prior to make room for the expander. Those made it feel like I always had a huge piece of food stuck in my gums. The first few weeks with the expander was rough because it was cutting into my tongue. On my last visit the ortho adjusted it and it feels fine now. I talk a little funny because my tongue hits it when I talk. It stays in all the time. It is actually expanding my bite quite quickly. I am 32 so things tend to take a little longer but it is moving really fast.

Also...you can go to google and look up orthodontic expanders and get some good info and find some pictures.