Guest guest Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 A diastema is just the name for the gap in between you to front teeth. Seems that you might have been expanding a few more days than me, so you must have a pretty big gap too. For braces, both of my doctors said that when ever I feel comforable enough to have all the ortho work done, to do it. When I went in to see my orthodontist he didn't use the normal plastic things, he just put cotton under my lip, and only put the braces on my upper teeth, from one side of the expander to the other side. I think he just wanted to get a jump on this gap. And when I asked how long I have to where this silly expander, they said three months, and then they will just put in a heavy wire to hold my upper jaw in place, I guess it is easier for use than having to wear this expander. This expander drives me nuts! By the way when did you have your surgry? I had mine on July 3. And how are you eating? Good luck to you too! Todd > > I am on my second week of expansion and I am having the same sort > of > > problems you are. My orthodontist told me that my expander would > not > > stop, that I could turn and turn and it would just keep expanding. > > My surgon told me that there is a limit as to how far you can trun > > it, and to just keep turning it until it stops on its own. Now in > > this case I really don't know who to listen to! What if my > > orthodontist is right about the not stopping thing, but I do what > my > > surgon tells me to, then I am in trouble! I see both Drs. once a > > week so sooner or later one of them will say stop. Also, just like > > with teeth, your jaw will have some relapse, my surgon said that I > > was going to over expand on purpose to compensate for this > relapse. > > On a different note, my diastema is now up to 6mm!!! and I still > > have a lot of expansion left. Thankfully I just had my braces put > on > > yesterday with a E-chain between my two front teeth! Hopefully that > > will stop or slow the gap. Good Luck, Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 A diastema is just the name for the gap in between you to front teeth. Seems that you might have been expanding a few more days than me, so you must have a pretty big gap too. For braces, both of my doctors said that when ever I feel comforable enough to have all the ortho work done, to do it. When I went in to see my orthodontist he didn't use the normal plastic things, he just put cotton under my lip, and only put the braces on my upper teeth, from one side of the expander to the other side. I think he just wanted to get a jump on this gap. And when I asked how long I have to where this silly expander, they said three months, and then they will just put in a heavy wire to hold my upper jaw in place, I guess it is easier for use than having to wear this expander. This expander drives me nuts! By the way when did you have your surgry? I had mine on July 3. And how are you eating? Good luck to you too! Todd > > I am on my second week of expansion and I am having the same sort > of > > problems you are. My orthodontist told me that my expander would > not > > stop, that I could turn and turn and it would just keep expanding. > > My surgon told me that there is a limit as to how far you can trun > > it, and to just keep turning it until it stops on its own. Now in > > this case I really don't know who to listen to! What if my > > orthodontist is right about the not stopping thing, but I do what > my > > surgon tells me to, then I am in trouble! I see both Drs. once a > > week so sooner or later one of them will say stop. Also, just like > > with teeth, your jaw will have some relapse, my surgon said that I > > was going to over expand on purpose to compensate for this > relapse. > > On a different note, my diastema is now up to 6mm!!! and I still > > have a lot of expansion left. Thankfully I just had my braces put > on > > yesterday with a E-chain between my two front teeth! Hopefully that > > will stop or slow the gap. Good Luck, Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 Todd, Thanks for explaining that to me. I expanded for a total of 9.5 mm so that's about as wide as my gap is. It's hard to whistle and my speech is funny but I'm dealing with it. I won't know about my braces for a while, yet. I was told that my expander will probably be in until the bone heals - 4 to 6 months. I'm hoping for the earlier end of that spectrum. Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps to know what others are doing in similar circumstances. I had my surgery on June 26th. I'm eating better these last few days. I've ventured into thick and chunky mush. I hope things are going well for you. Keep me posted, if/when you can, and we'll go through some of this together! Carol > A diastema is just the name for the gap in between you to front > teeth. Seems that you might have been expanding a few more days than > me, so you must have a pretty big gap too. For braces, both of my > doctors said that when ever I feel comforable enough to have all the > ortho work done, to do it. When I went in to see my orthodontist he > didn't use the normal plastic things, he just put cotton under my > lip, and only put the braces on my upper teeth, from one side of the > expander to the other side. I think he just wanted to get a jump on > this gap. And when I asked how long I have to where this silly > expander, they said three months, and then they will just put in a > heavy wire to hold my upper jaw in place, I guess it is easier for > use than having to wear this expander. This expander drives me > nuts! By the way when did you have your surgry? I had mine on July > 3. And how are you eating? Good luck to you too! Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 Todd, Thanks for explaining that to me. I expanded for a total of 9.5 mm so that's about as wide as my gap is. It's hard to whistle and my speech is funny but I'm dealing with it. I won't know about my braces for a while, yet. I was told that my expander will probably be in until the bone heals - 4 to 6 months. I'm hoping for the earlier end of that spectrum. Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps to know what others are doing in similar circumstances. I had my surgery on June 26th. I'm eating better these last few days. I've ventured into thick and chunky mush. I hope things are going well for you. Keep me posted, if/when you can, and we'll go through some of this together! Carol > A diastema is just the name for the gap in between you to front > teeth. Seems that you might have been expanding a few more days than > me, so you must have a pretty big gap too. For braces, both of my > doctors said that when ever I feel comforable enough to have all the > ortho work done, to do it. When I went in to see my orthodontist he > didn't use the normal plastic things, he just put cotton under my > lip, and only put the braces on my upper teeth, from one side of the > expander to the other side. I think he just wanted to get a jump on > this gap. And when I asked how long I have to where this silly > expander, they said three months, and then they will just put in a > heavy wire to hold my upper jaw in place, I guess it is easier for > use than having to wear this expander. This expander drives me > nuts! By the way when did you have your surgry? I had mine on July > 3. And how are you eating? Good luck to you too! Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 Todd, Thanks for explaining that to me. I expanded for a total of 9.5 mm so that's about as wide as my gap is. It's hard to whistle and my speech is funny but I'm dealing with it. I won't know about my braces for a while, yet. I was told that my expander will probably be in until the bone heals - 4 to 6 months. I'm hoping for the earlier end of that spectrum. Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps to know what others are doing in similar circumstances. I had my surgery on June 26th. I'm eating better these last few days. I've ventured into thick and chunky mush. I hope things are going well for you. Keep me posted, if/when you can, and we'll go through some of this together! Carol > A diastema is just the name for the gap in between you to front > teeth. Seems that you might have been expanding a few more days than > me, so you must have a pretty big gap too. For braces, both of my > doctors said that when ever I feel comforable enough to have all the > ortho work done, to do it. When I went in to see my orthodontist he > didn't use the normal plastic things, he just put cotton under my > lip, and only put the braces on my upper teeth, from one side of the > expander to the other side. I think he just wanted to get a jump on > this gap. And when I asked how long I have to where this silly > expander, they said three months, and then they will just put in a > heavy wire to hold my upper jaw in place, I guess it is easier for > use than having to wear this expander. This expander drives me > nuts! By the way when did you have your surgry? I had mine on July > 3. And how are you eating? Good luck to you too! Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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