Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

My son had them 10 years ago. He still had baby teeth at the time. Our dentist did the kind that are more like braces. I had no "key" to turn. All of that was done at the dentist. He worked pretty well, but he still ended up with regular braces for some minor crowding later and no has to have his wisdom teeth taken out because of lack of space.

His were always tightened at the dentist before school. Only once during the process did he call home and want to leave school because it hurt later that day. Generally, he only wanted to eat soups and such the day they were tightened.

great aunt jacqui

DD had upper one when she was 13. She did not complain. She had to lay down when I turned the key. it was like a small allen wrench. She did say that her teeth ached for about an hour after but tylenol was handy. Great results,

BabyCakes

My son went thru this when he was about 10yr.(now 31 y.o.) It work out just fine.Only compliant was the food got caught in the upper part of his mouth. The before and after pics were amazing.

sammygirlqt

My daughter had this done 20yrs ago. What a nightmare. Do you know it actually splits the bone in the roof of their mouth? She suffered horribly and I had to send a 8yr old to school every time it was cranked on tynol. She later had to have his wisdome teeth pulled and that was a nightmare too.

luv2so

I worked with dentists for 40 years, seen many expanders. They can be some what uncomfortable, but wll worth it after you see the outcome. They seperate the bone where they naturally grow together, the bone fills in and widens the arch and mandible. I've seen some very nice results.

The little girl across the stree just had hers removed and also had her braces off.

mjsylvstr

Granddaughter, 15, got hers on last week....the turning goes every other night to expand the area.......

Not as bad as we thought it would be.

She gets the braces on at the end of the summer.this is all in preparation for the big day........

Angellight

All 3 of my boys had them since both my husband & I have small jaws.
Pros: They are made to expand the width and length of the jaws. The palate is softer at younger ages and will stretch/expand better at this age according to my dentist and the ortodontist that did their work. Worked with a woman years ago who had to have her upper palate cut(yes sawed apart) in a cross to expand hers to straighten her teeth at 28 years old.
Then all 3 of my kids had the braces.
Cons: It IS painful to the kid. You are altering their mouth. If they are permanent, YOU have to help them be responsible for the cleaning out from under them (we used a waterpik.) If they are removable, they can be left behind (ours was at a restaurant in a napkin, thankfully remembered and searched for by the staff before being completely trashed and driving home 400 miles.)
Would I do it over again versus the teeth pulling. Yes, but I would probably also have a couple of teeth pulled.
I had 5 teeth pulled as an early teen to "allow my teeth to move around & straighten themselves out" It was quite tramatic for me, but that was the way it was back then. AND, No that did not happen, my teeth are still crooked.
Except for wisdom teeth, my two older boys have all of their teeth. My youngest however ended up having 9 teeth pulled. 4 impacted wisdom, 4 impacted 12 yr molars and an extra molar that was also under the gum line.
I don't know if this helps, but it is my experience.

Happy Day,
Susan

Naturalmama

I had to have the four teeth pulled and then braces. And my teeth, especially on the bottom are still crooked. My mouth is just too small, so I can understand the concept.... and I can see with the upper jaw, but I'm not so sure I understand how the lower jaw works. I see that most people that have had them have had the upper.

He (the dentist) does removable, which I think I'm glad of. I don't know if I could "turn the crank" on my kid! lol! I think I need to find out more about the lower expanders... dh was the one that took him in since I was working that day - I doubt I would've had all the questions then anyway since I wasn't expecting this. Thanks for the positive comments though - it does make me feel better!

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

My son who had it done in Kindergarden complained less with his expanders and traditional braces then he has with his Invisilines now that he is 15. Our dentist said the younger the better.

eastermarie

Our daughter had the upper one, still had to have braces later.