Orthodontic Expanders

POPPY · 10-11-2007, 10:10 AM

My 7 year old dd is getting an expander put in to correct a major crossbite in the next couple of weeks. Has anyone gone through this with any of your children? What should I expect? Is there a lot of pain involved? I hesitate to even ask these questions, because I hope it won't be bad, but I want to be prepared for the worst. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

I had major orthodontics starting when I was about 8 or 9 until I was 15. I remember the pain and I have this sick feeling in my stomach now that I have a dd going through it all! Please tell me that orthodontics has advanced in the last 20 years and that it won't be as bad as I remember!

devin · 10-11-2007, 09:06 PM

I've never had any major orthopedic work, the only dental stuff I went through was getting my wisdom teeth out, and two fillings, and neither was very bad. I hope she gets a great dentist and isn't in any pain.

ccbegay · 10-11-2007, 09:11 PM

Is it something like a pallete spreader? that can be turned with a key? my younger sister had one of those, and she had a difficult time, and so did my mother...she would often give her children's tylenol and do the turning...she only had to do it for a 6 week period but it was hard on my sister and mom...but now, she has a perfect smile! good luck! (i had orthodontics for 4 years, and many tightenings, rubber band wearing, and still wearing my retainer...I love my smile!)

UKcats06 · 10-11-2007, 09:39 PM

I had one when I was in 8th grade. Since I was a little older when I had it my palate, which is in two pieces, had started to fuse together and when it popped it HURT. My little sister had one when she was like 5 and had no problem with hers.

We both had to turn a key every day or twice a day or something like that, and there was pressure but not bad. The worst part of having mine was that since I was older, I had a HUGE gap in my front teeth when it opened up and I got made fun of for it. Being 7 I can't imagine that being an issue, don't kids loose their teeth around then anyway?

Kristie · 10-13-2007, 01:45 AM

i've heard that the pressure is probably similar to having braces tightened....once your mouth gets used to it, it's time to tighten yet again.

I went through headgear, rubber bands, 8 teeth removed, 4 years of full top/bottom braces and 2 years of top/bottom retainer...it sucked!!!! and the worst thing, my teeth are now moving back into their old position which is causing recession...dentist says best way to fix - BRACES, again

POPPY · 10-15-2007, 08:27 AM

Okay, I am feeling a little better. They are still loosing teeth at age 7. My dd lost her faster than most, so it has made starting early a little easier. Plus we haven't had to pull teeth yet, which is good! The ortho did say she would have a gap between her front teeth, but this is the age where they look so awkward anyway with those big huge front teeth and their little heads!

It is so hard to convince you kids that the pain is for their own good when they are so young, I struggle with this everytime I have to do vacinations!

Speaking of vacinations, and this may need to post on another thread, my pediatrician has my girls down for getting the GARDASIL (the new cervical cancer vacination) next year at age 8 or 9!

Some of you may not be aware but in Texas our governer has made the GARDASIL vacine a requirement (he also gets kickbacks from the maker of Gardisil, Merck!!).

How do you all feel about this? I have always been one to do what my doctor tells me, I figure they know more than I. But it seems that every year we get new vacinations added when I think we are all done. My instinct is starting to say enough is enough KWIM?

devin · 10-15-2007, 10:52 PM

I got Gardasil this past year myself, I just barely made it under the upper age limit they have right now. I had no side effects other than it kind of "burned" for a little bit after the shot. Well worth it in my opinion, even in a monogamous relationship, considering the other option of possibly dying of cancer from a virus most *everyone* has, or can get even without sleeping with other people.

I'm not in favor of all vaccines willy-nilly, but that is one my kids will get (when I have them).

christykay · 10-17-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POPPY

Okay, I am feeling a little better. They are still loosing teeth at age 7. My dd lost her faster than most, so it has made starting early a little easier. Plus we haven't had to pull teeth yet, which is good! The ortho did say she would have a gap between her front teeth, but this is the age where they look so awkward anyway with those big huge front teeth and their little heads!

It is so hard to convince you kids that the pain is for their own good when they are so young, I struggle with this everytime I have to do vacinations!

Speaking of vacinations, and this may need to post on another thread, my pediatrician has my girls down for getting the GARDASIL (the new cervical cancer vacination) next year at age 8 or 9!

Some of you may not be aware but in Texas our governer has made the GARDASIL vacine a requirement (he also gets kickbacks from the maker of Gardisil, Merck!!).

How do you all feel about this? I have always been one to do what my doctor tells me, I figure they know more than I. But it seems that every year we get new vacinations added when I think we are all done. My instinct is starting to say enough is enough KWIM?

From my research it looks like Texas is a parent opt out state. The Governor may have issued an order, but parents can opt out. You know I just don't know how I feel about this vaccine. The thought process behind this vaccine seems logical, but what are the possible long term side effects? I don't believe that there has been enough research done as of yet to even consider this for my own daughters. It is interesting that HPV is carried by both men and women, but as of now only young girls are given the vaccine? Like I said, I just don't know, I don't feel comfortable with it.

felly · 10-17-2007, 04:28 PM

i still fall under the upper age limit, however, my obgyn told me that it's expensive. she told me to get it if i can afford it but she would advise against it because of cost. apparently, insurance companies are still iffy about it (when are they not). is there anyway to get it at a health department, or, when i move to houston get it discounted somehow? i'm interested, and i have to get it done in the next 11 months.

czechmate · 10-17-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christykay

From my research it looks like Texas is a parent opt out state. The Governor may have issued an order, but parents can opt out. You know I just don't know how I feel about this vaccine. The thought process behind this vaccine seems logical, but what are the possible long term side effects? I don't believe that there has been enough research done as of yet to even consider this for my own daughters. It is interesting that HPV is carried by both men and women, but as of now only young girls are given the vaccine? Like I said, I just don't know, I don't feel comfortable with it.

I would be opting out.

I agree that there is much more research needed.
My daughter is only 4 yrs old, but if I was making the decision today, I would decline.
But I'm against alot of (to me) unnessary vaccines -- like the chicken pox and flu shot.
Just my opinion.

Jen

10-11-2007, 10:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
POPPY Jetgirls Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Texas (Dallas Area) Posts: 85 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Orthodontic Expanders My 7 year old dd is getting an expander put in to correct a major crossbite in the next couple of weeks. Has anyone gone through this with any of your children? What should I expect? Is there a lot of pain involved? I hesitate to even ask these questions, because I hope it won't be bad, but I want to be prepared for the worst. Any suggestions would be appreciated! I had major orthodontics starting when I was about 8 or 9 until I was 15. I remember the pain and I have this sick feeling in my stomach now that I have a dd going through it all! Please tell me that orthodontics has advanced in the last 20 years and that it won't be as bad as I remember! __________________ Staci

10-11-2007, 09:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
devin Jetgirls Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Renton, Wa, USA Posts: 159 Recipes: Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Orthodontic Expanders I've never had any major orthopedic work, the only dental stuff I went through was getting my wisdom teeth out, and two fillings, and neither was very bad. I hope she gets a great dentist and isn't in any pain. __________________ Desiree

10-11-2007, 09:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
ccbegay Jetgirls Ol' School Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 1,617 Recipes: Thanks: 5 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Orthodontic Expanders Is it something like a pallete spreader? that can be turned with a key? my younger sister had one of those, and she had a difficult time, and so did my mother...she would often give her children's tylenol and do the turning...she only had to do it for a 6 week period but it was hard on my sister and mom...but now, she has a perfect smile! good luck! (i had orthodontics for 4 years, and many tightenings, rubber band wearing, and still wearing my retainer...I love my smile!) __________________ <-------Kenzie's wild weekend on a boat in SC... ~Great Love and Great Achievements involves Great Risks~ CASSIE

10-11-2007, 09:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
UKcats06 Jetgirls Ol' School Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Erlanger, KY Posts: 657 Recipes: Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Orthodontic Expanders I had one when I was in 8th grade. Since I was a little older when I had it my palate, which is in two pieces, had started to fuse together and when it popped it HURT. My little sister had one when she was like 5 and had no problem with hers. We both had to turn a key every day or twice a day or something like that, and there was pressure but not bad. The worst part of having mine was that since I was older, I had a HUGE gap in my front teeth when it opened up and I got made fun of for it. Being 7 I can't imagine that being an issue, don't kids loose their teeth around then anyway? __________________ Emily

10-13-2007, 01:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kristie Admin/Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 6,576 Recipes: Thanks: 7 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Orthodontic Expanders i've heard that the pressure is probably similar to having braces tightened....once your mouth gets used to it, it's time to tighten yet again. I went through headgear, rubber bands, 8 teeth removed, 4 years of full top/bottom braces and 2 years of top/bottom retainer...it sucked!!!! and the worst thing, my teeth are now moving back into their old position which is causing recession...dentist says best way to fix - BRACES, again __________________ www.jetcareers.com

10-15-2007, 08:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
POPPY Jetgirls Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Texas (Dallas Area) Posts: 85 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Orthodontic Expanders Okay, I am feeling a little better. They are still loosing teeth at age 7. My dd lost her faster than most, so it has made starting early a little easier. Plus we haven't had to pull teeth yet, which is good! The ortho did say she would have a gap between her front teeth, but this is the age where they look so awkward anyway with those big huge front teeth and their little heads! It is so hard to convince you kids that the pain is for their own good when they are so young, I struggle with this everytime I have to do vacinations! Speaking of vacinations, and this may need to post on another thread, my pediatrician has my girls down for getting the GARDASIL (the new cervical cancer vacination) next year at age 8 or 9! Some of you may not be aware but in Texas our governer has made the GARDASIL vacine a requirement (he also gets kickbacks from the maker of Gardisil, Merck!!). How do you all feel about this? I have always been one to do what my doctor tells me, I figure they know more than I. But it seems that every year we get new vacinations added when I think we are all done. My instinct is starting to say enough is enough KWIM? __________________ Staci Last edited by POPPY; 10-15-2007 at 08:27 AM. Reason: spelling

10-15-2007, 10:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
devin Jetgirls Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Renton, Wa, USA Posts: 159 Recipes: Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Orthodontic Expanders I got Gardasil this past year myself, I just barely made it under the upper age limit they have right now. I had no side effects other than it kind of "burned" for a little bit after the shot. Well worth it in my opinion, even in a monogamous relationship, considering the other option of possibly dying of cancer from a virus most everyone has, or can get even without sleeping with other people. I'm not in favor of all vaccines willy-nilly, but that is one my kids will get (when I have them). __________________ Desiree

10-17-2007, 04:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
felly Jetgirls Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spring/TX/USA Posts: 172 Recipes: Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Orthodontic Expanders i still fall under the upper age limit, however, my obgyn told me that it's expensive. she told me to get it if i can afford it but she would advise against it because of cost. apparently, insurance companies are still iffy about it (when are they not). is there anyway to get it at a health department, or, when i move to houston get it discounted somehow? i'm interested, and i have to get it done in the next 11 months.

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