Lower arches can also be expanded when teeth are crowded, but the function of a lower expander is different than that of the upper. You can call him/her on their home phone (you won't be bothering them, they get it a lot) and ask if you can make a quick appointment over the weekend. Good luck! I watched the ortho's demo, but it is rather tricky.? If you really want to try before you can see the orthodontist have her lie back on the couch. Prop her head up on a pillow so that her chin is up in the air. Learn more about our commitment to oral health education. Maybe they could meet you there at the office, that's what they did for us. !, this is not your responsibility, it is the orthodontists responsibility. if you feel uncomfortable doing this, DON"T! Between the ages of six and 13, according to the American Dental Association (ADA) Mouth Healthy site, your child's baby teeth will be replaced by permanent teeth. Removing a tooth as a part of orthodontic treatment is one solution, but an upper or lower jaw expander can make room for your child's permanent teeth without extraction. According to orthodontist Dr. Greg Jorgensen , successful palatal expansion treatment is done before the child's growth plate or midpalatal suture fuses – usually between ages 14 and 16. it will make very little difference in the out come of the case if you wait a few days to see them. The braces may need wax on some brackets the first few weeks until your mouth stops getting caught, and the expander may give you headaches so have tylenol ready. Therefore, orthodontist Dr. Cheryl Held recommends her patients use either a water jet or a special syringe, designed to squirt water under the expander in order to flush out debris. But, she is getting upset, and slipped twice! After about a week with the brace things won't be sore, but learn to check and see if any stray bits of food stuck around :) You don't want your smile-in-progress covered with leftover sandwich. Growing patients may need an expander to widen their upper jaw to make room for permanent teeth, improve their upper and lower jaw alignments, or to enhance the look of their smile. What do I do? She is probably sensing your nervousness so reassure her that you know what you are doing. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. My orthodontist's office apparently does not have an answering service and apparently cuts out early on Fridays!!!!! Milkshakes are the best option because you can suck them up easily and they numb your teeth a little. 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Some appliances for lower jaw expansion look similar to those used in the upper arch, but some orthodontists prefer using removable retainers (sagittal appliances) with built-in expansion screws. This pressure causes an increased amount of bone to grow between the right and left … Teeth cleaning at dental office during pandemic? But, she is getting upset, and slipped twice! Have you tried eating an apple with no teeth? After about a month you can speak pretty well, and after about two you speak normally. I don't want to hurt her!!!!! Ice cream and chocolate will be your best friends. Food and debris can get caught under an expander. I have the key, and I asked the orthodontist exactly how to hold it, thought I understood how to put it in the small hole, turn toward the uvula until the next hole appears, etc. You will know that it is in all the way if you let go of the key and it stays there. [1] X Research source Try laying down on your back and having an adult turn your expander with the help of a flashlight if necessary. This way you can see the expander better. As expansion takes place, you may notice a gap form between your child's two front teeth; this indicates that the palate is actually expanding rather than the teeth just tipping outward. Let her know that the only way it can hurt her is if she wiggles around and you can not see what you are doing. Make sure that you put the key all the way into the hole. This is because the upper jaw is still malleable at this age to adapts to orthopaedic pressure. good luck. How do I turn my daughter's palate expander? Contact me if you have any questions. And for patients that have trouble flossing because of their appliances, consider a floss threader or a new flossing tool called a FlossFish. Look it up on www.whitepages.com, and you should find it. But the pressure will dissipate. Expansion screws are built into the appliance, and when activated, slowly separate and stretch the soft cartilage of the palate over the course of several weeks or months. By simply activating the expander through turning a screw in the center, with a special key we provide, gradual outward pressure is placed on the left and right halves of the upper jaw. After the expander is placed, your child may also have an excess of saliva, and speech may be affected as he adjusts to the feeling. I watched the ortho's demo, but it is rather tricky.? Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste like Colgate® Cavity Protection and flossing daily is a must to protect against tooth decay. With each turn of the screw, the appliance widens 1/4 of a millimeter. Unfortunately, not every child's jaw is big enough to accommodate his adult set, resulting in crowding and misalignment. If you let go and the key falls out then you do not have it engaged in the hole all the way. ? Mine took almost four years, and then theres the retainer.... Do you know her orthodontist's last name? With each turn of the screw, the appliance widens 1/5th of a millimeter. An expander may feel bulky and uncomfortable at first, and when screwed outward, kids may feel pressure on their teeth, roof of their mouth and sometimes behind the nose and eyes. What are the downsides of dentures or false teeth? An orthodontist will need to evaluate your child's overall orthodontic needs before deciding if this item will yield the best result and the most fantastic smile. This is because the upper jaw is still malleable at this age to adapt quickly to orthodontic treatment. She also encourages the use of a flexible palate cleaner that slides under the expander to push out food debris and excess material. Have a family member or other adult turn the expander for you to make the process easier. Upper expanders are traditionally attached to the molars with metal rings, but they can be removable in certain cases. It is really simple to do but very hard to see. You can sign in to vote the answer. Dr. Jorgensen explains that because the lower arch doesn't have a suture to close, the bone cannot be expanded; instead, the lower expander simply moves the teeth. How do you think about the answers? Dr. Jorgensen opts for traditional fixed braces to tip and align the teeth at the same time, whereas others use lip bumpers or place a spring-activated wire behind the teeth. RE: How do I turn my daughter's palate expander? I have swollen gums and they're making me sick. How long before gum inflammation goes away after deep cleaning for periodontal disease? The only other option is to go to the orthodontist and have them turn it every day. This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. While you can turn your expander yourself, it’ll be trickier to see the inside of your mouth. take her back to the office, let the ORTHODONTIST, not the staff show you how to do this very important procedure. What do you call the person that hands dentist tools? For either process to be safe and effective, there needs to be enough bone and gum tissue around the roots of the teeth. Colgate Reaches Children in Need Across the Globe With the Power of a Bright Smile. When you wear an expander, you will need to turn it at home daily for the expander to be effective. Get your answers by asking now. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. A palate expander is used for a variety of reasons. She will feel a slight pressue but make sure to reassure her that she has to be very still so that you can do it properly. If it is not done right she will have to wear the expander longer. An expander is usually placed no earlier then age 7 and no later than age 11 or 12. Once it is in the hole give it a firm push to the back. Other than that, unfortunately, you just have to wait until its over. And although wearing expanders can create homecare challenges, there are unique cleaning aides available to help your child keep his expander and teeth clean. Lower expanders will "upright" teeth that are tipped inward, and if they don't need uprighting, the device will "flare" the teeth over the edge of the supporting bone. I have the key, and I asked the orthodontist exactly how to hold it, thought I understood how to put it in the small hole, turn toward the uvula until the next hole appears, etc. When it is turned every day for a month, you have achieved 6 mm of upper jaw expansion. I had that problem too. According to orthodontist Dr. Greg Jorgensen, successful palatal expansion treatment is done before the child's growth plate or midpalatal suture fuses – usually between ages 14 and 16. An upper jaw expander stretches the bone and cartilage of the palate in order to expand a growing child's arch and prevent crowding and cross bites.