I just braces(metallic blue and lime green)and I was wondering about the palate !
Question: I am getting that soon so they didn't attach the wire yet. The brackets feel all scratchy and I have to wait until the 7th of next month to get the wire put on. Does anyone know if the palate thing hurts and how to use it?
Answers: I am getting that soon so they didn't attach the wire yet. The brackets feel all scratchy and I have to wait until the 7th of next month to get the wire put on. Does anyone know if the palate thing hurts and how to use it?
It's not bad. Do you know what it is? I'll explain it as best as I can. It's a strip of metal across the top of your mouth attatched somehow to the back mollars (mine was with a mouth guard like thing). In the middle of the metal strip is a clock-like structure. Your dentist will give you another metal thing (like a key) to rotate the clock-like structure however often they tell you to rotate it. It's quite simple to do really. You stick the 'key' into the 'clock' and rotate it! Usually it's a half turn. You'll notice after about 4 days (I did anyways), that you develop a gap between your two front teeth. But, after the wire is put on your braces, you'll notice the gap will vanish quickly. The expander doesn't cause pain in your teeth, but it did cause me tension in my sinuses, and sometimes sinus headaches. Hopefully you wont suffer from that. But, if you do, a few advils will take care of it!
Tip: Get someone you trust (mom/dad) to rotate the expander for you. It's much easier.
I assume you're talking about a palatal expander. There is a keyway which is generally turned 1/2 turn for a period of time specified by the orthodontist.
My daughter had one for a few months. She said it felt a little tight when the key is first turned, but not bad--and she pretty much complains about everything! ;-)
Steve Bornfeld, DDS