RPE and braces

[abuja]

Part of the joys of being a teenager, I'm getting braces plus a palatal expander on August 3rd. Does anyone have experience with these rapid palatal expanders? (for those of you who don't know what they are, they go on the roof of your mouth for 6 months and break the palate in half so the bone can fill in the gap, therefore widening the roof of your mouth and reducing teeth crowding.)

[2kdime]

I had that RPE.

WHAT A TERRIBLE 6 MONTHS!!!

You basically turn a key morning and night to widen your palate.

Oh, may god be with you. They don't break your palate, just stretch it out. Also, you get the RPE BEFORE braces, not at the same time.

It's really going to limit your food intake to softer stuff. Did for me at least.

[llovelace]

lol my daughter had the expander, what payback when she was being a mouthy little brat and I had to turn the expander, would give it an extra turn or two. But from her experience with it & the braces for 3 years, all turned out well. Good luck

[abuja]

EEK! I'm actually getting the palatal expander with braces on my bottom jaw and JUST the brackets on my top jaw with no wires so not to interfere with the palatal expanding. Some people complain of drooling and stuff when they wear the RPE? Does that really happen?

[2kdime]

I never had ANY drooling.

BUT, it doesn't sit tight to the roof of your mouth, so food and crap will get stuck between it and your roof.

Gross I know but it happens.

All in all I did that and wore braces for a few years, worth every bit.

Just make SURE to wear the retainers afterwards.

[abuja]

Okay. Thanks! I'll let you know how it went on August 3rd.

[Christina]

ditto on the retainers. they aren't fun but will make sure you keep what you paid for. I know a handful of people who have to get a second round of braces because they didn't wear their retainers. huge bummer and your parents will not be happy to say the least.

[Mery]

Dude, I'm only getting my braces off NEXT WEEK! After a year and a half...success.

Of course, after that, I need to get four wisdom teeth pulled immediately. ikhjiodkids


Best of luck.

[SlitherinSisters]

I had the expander, braces for four years, headgear, rubber bands on the sides and front of my mouth, a mouth piece to move my jaw after I got my braces off, and THEN finally a retainer.

Honestly I didn't think the expander was that bad at all. It really didn't hurt any more than getting the braces tightened every month. The headgear wasn't that bad either, although I REFUSED to wear it at school.

I promise you'll be fine!!! It's not as bad as you might think!