Discomfort is minor, lasting for only a few minutes each day and pain medication is rarely needed. As you or your daughter turn the screw by a very small amount once or twice a day with a special key, the tension induced at the junction of the two maxillary bones stimulates growth at the suture. Call your doctor right away if you have a fever, or redness, warmth, or swelling in the breast area. If you are also having radiation treatments, radiation fibrosis may cause pain around your tissue expanders as well. You might not be as familiar with them as you are with metal braces. Expansion is a great treatment method for the right case and it sounds like your daughter's malocclusion fits the bill. This describes your daughter, who, at 9 years old, has a mix of baby teeth and new adult teeth. After the expander is turned you may feel pressure in the area of the teeth, and tingling around the bridge of the nose or under your eyes. After about two days, normal eating can resume with the exception of unusually sticky candies that can get caught in the screw of the expander. like I don't mean too much in one day, i mean what if they just widened their jaw too much? Regan JP, Schaffner AD. Turning the screw is quite simple. Expanding the size of the upper arch and by consequence repositioning the upper teeth can have a positive effect on the lower teeth, too. Dear Doctor, This could vary from once a day to two or three times per day, depending on the degree of expansion required as well as on other orthodontic procedures that need to occur during the process, such as adding braces. Other names for it include rapid maxillary expansion appliance, palate expander, orthodontic expander, Haas, or Hyrax. You may also ask for smaller fills going forward. A palatal expander can work to make the teeth meet in the proper places for the best look as well as for proper functionality. In: StatPearls [Internet]. some time to get used to the device before any turn is made. And there are other benefits. It has two halves that are connected to each other in the middle with a small screw device. Some report feeling pressure on the teeth, the roof of the mouth, or behind the nose. Some also report that the tongue is initially scratched by the device. Pain may also result if you develop an infection. Using expanders can facilitate eruption of blocked or impacted canine teeth (the big teeth that develop just under the sides of the nose) by making space for them. Implant Reconstruction: What to Expect. This turning is done by the patient or caregiver, and usually, causes only minor discomfort for a brief period. While there are devices that are removable, these are often not recommended because the compliance of use is not often good. Those should be avoided. Here's what you need to know... 27 Meriden Ave, Suite 2A Southington, CT 06489, © 2020 Demas Orthodontics. 1 Answer . The most noticeable feature, though, may be the gap between the top two front teeth. When teeth are crowded, or if there is a cross bite observed, the palatal expander can be helpful. The upper jaw and palate (that's the roof of your mouth) together are known as the maxilla. Tissue expander pain is common in women who undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy. As they separate, new bone forms allowing the gap to fill in, and become permanent. This allows us to take advantage of the unique time in life during which the dynamic process of growth can be influenced very positively, as in the case of some developing malocclusions. The orthodontist said this is correctable with “maxillary expansion.” Sounds scary; can you please help explain? Breast skin and nerves are usually numb after a mastectomy, so the pain is caused by the stretching of the muscle.. The tension on the suture causes the body to deposit new bone at the junction, thus maintaining this widened position. Le NK, et al. This type of pain is characterized by breast tenderness and soreness.. What would orthodontists do? When those aren't enough, medications or even adjustment of your expanders may be needed. It is made of two halves that are secured together by a screw in the middle. Therefore, if you pain is significant, or is lasting longer than a day, it's important to see your doctor.. Clear ceramic braces are among the most commonly worn. Because of the stretching involved, tissue expanders can be painful. Palatal expansion can be used effectively to treat cross-bite problems and provide more space to resolve borderline crowding in mixed dentition cases. It may be helpful to rank your pain on a scale of 1 to 10, with a 1 meaning pain that is barely noticeable, and a 10 being the worst pain you can imagine. 2017;78(5 Suppl 4):S208-S211. It takes a skilled, educated orthodontist to recognize where and when it can be most beneficial. Expander adjustments: If you are feeling too uncomfortable, your doctor can remove some of the saline solution so that your muscles don't stretch too fast. Early rehabilitation after total mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with tissue expander insertion in breast cancer patients: A retrospective case-control study. I haven't had any trouble with it until last night. Most women report having far less pain once the implants are in place. This space traps food when you eat. I've had my expander for about a week and a half. For example, if a child has a cross bite, where the lower teeth bite on the outside of the upper ones, expanding the upper jaw can help make room for the proper bite. If you are concerned about your child’s teeth, or if your regular dentist has recommended an orthodontist consultation, please call or visit Team Demas Orthodontics today. In one study, it was found that women ranked their pain, on average, between 0.4 and 2.5 out of 10. Everything you need to know about your child’s palatal expander! 1 decade ago. It fits on the upper teeth towards the back of the mouth. Often, there will be two weeks of turning and then some time to allow for stabilization. Be as consistent as possible. When the upper jaw widens, the teeth will then have room to move into the proper locations in the mouth. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, there are around 4 million Americans wearing braces today. Pain was also usually limited to the first 24 hours after a fill. This is simply the device expanding the palate. Guiding the growth of an adolescent's facial bone structure, also known as dentofacial (“dento” – teeth; “facial” – face) orthopedics (“ortho” – straighten; “ped” – child), is an effective way to treat certain malocclusions (“mal” – bad; “occlusion” – bite). (Larger fills can increase the risk of skin breakdown and possibly infection, especially if you are having radiation.) I guess what happened is yesterday morning (I turn twice a day) I didn't turn it quite far enough. It is essentially a small pouch that will be expanded gradually over a period of weeks or months with saline injections through a fill port. Thus, the palatal expander helps the bones to move apart while forming new bone growth, which will help the upper jaw increase in size. It is one of the reasons to bring back that beautiful smile and have the perfect bite. Journal of Breast Cancer. includes the placement of synthetic breast implants. Pain and anxiety levels of patients undergoing tissue expansion after mastectomies: A case series study. This time-tested treatment is nothing to be scared of and it sounds like you're in good hands. How to relieve pain after immediate breast reconstruction with sub muscular tissue expander. The skin above your expander is at risk for breakdown (necrosis) and, as noted, infection.. A palatal expander is an appliance that is used to widen the upper jaw. Discomfort is minor, lasting for only a few minutes each day and pain medication is rarely needed. 2017 Nov;24(4). The orthodontist will attach the expander with bands or plastic bonding to the upper teeth. Orthodontists are dentists who have received two to three years of advanced full-time education beyond dental school to specialize in straightening teeth and assisting in the growth and development of the facial structures, including the skull and jawbones.