Palate Expander
Mon, 28/05/2007 - 10:26 — mperry
I'm wondering whether anyone on this site has had any experience with palate expanders. We were told that a palate expander is required for kids having their first bone graft op. Basically I'd be interested in hearing other people's experiences with this procedure over and above what the doctors have already told.
thanks very much
Mike
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Blessings
Tue, 23/02/2010 - 12:40 — beachdwlrI'm sure in the beginning it probably seemed pretty overwhelming for my parents. Daddy was deployed often - back then Marines deployed for two years at a time and families didn't travel with them. They stayed behind. Read The Rest »
Hi Mike
Our son is going through this at the moment. Initially he had spacers inserted between his molars which was followed by an impression (a few weeks after the spacers had been inserted). The impression is used to manufacture the palate expander. Unfortunately, for some reason, the expander didn't fit so we had to wait another couple of weeks for a reworked version to be completed.
This one did fit and was glued into place and we are currently on our 4th week of adjusting the expander. This is done through turning a screw which causes the device to expand. We need to do this twice a week for a number of weeks (I think it's 6).
Once the expander has reached the extent they want another impression will be made which will be used to manufacture a retainer which he will have to wear until the bone graft operation.
Obviously I don't directly know whether there is any pain when the device is expanded but according to my son, there's no actual pain, just some discomfort.
Hope that was of use.
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Bron