Does my 9yr old really need an expander?

[Anonymous]

Saw the orthodontist today as recommended by our dentist. Orthodontist said that he'd recommend an expander for 8mos. and then a retainer at night and once all adult teeth come in, braces. No experience with an expander (I did invisillign later in life)...it sounds miserable and I'm concerned how it will impact his diet (he's already underweight). I asked what would happen if we didn't get the expander and the Dr. explained that he would likely need some teeth pulled before braces go in. I had teeth pulled as a kid and it seemed like no big deal. Am I crazy for thinking teeth pulling in the future is better than 8mos of potential misery? Not to mention the cost...what am I missing here?

[Anonymous]

definitely get a second opinion. My ortho said that he doesn't like to do expanders because it will change the shape of your face.

[Anonymous]

Get a second or third opinion. Expanders are for multiple phases and for orthodontists who start early. Not all kids need it. Please see a couple orthod before deciding

[Anonymous]

I have heard that older orthodontists pull teeth, rather lightly.

Younger orthodontists are trained to try hard to save healthy teeth.

I would recommend a consult with Dr. Gerlein in Bethesda. He is VERY expensive , but saved my child 4 extractions. And her teeth are beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that older orthodontists pull teeth, rather lightly.

Younger orthodontists are trained to try hard to save healthy teeth.

I would recommend a consult with Dr. Gerlein in Bethesda. He is VERY expensive , but saved my child 4 extractions. And her teeth are beautiful.

Yes I was also told pulling teeth was old school and can weaken your jaw bone long term. An expander us not a big deal and should not affect eating after a day ish.

[Anonymous]

My 7 yo had an expander and it wasn't a big deal and made a huge difference in her teeth.

Her teeth started all piled on top of one another. We opened the expander with a twist every night for about 6 weeks and then we left it in while the bone fused again for about 6 months. It never caused any pain-- sometimes got food stuck under it and she needed to swish to clean it out, but that was the most annoying bit. It was a non-event for her.

[Anonymous]

I’m no expert, but here’s my limited experience.

Because my mom went through braces in her youth in the 50s/60s and had a truly hideous experience, she was determined to keep me out of braces if at all possible. I had to have a couple of teeth pulled, but otherwise my teeth were relatively straight, although I had an overbite. It looked like everything was working out, until my jaw started popping, which was diagnosed as TMJ. I had increasing pain, wore braces in college that were supposed to fix the problem, but didn’t. I eventually needed jaw surgery.

I was bound and determined to do everything possible to avoid TMJ for my kids. They had a round of braces with a palatal expander and then later a round in high school, without the expander. They have been spared any problems with TMJ, but it’s impossible to know if orthodontia played any part in that. What I do know from talking to them, is that the braces weren’t nearly as bad for them as kids whose mouths were still forming as it was for me as an adult whose mouth was fully developed.

I have no idea if your kids need a palatal expander. I would encourage you to get a second orthodontic opinion, or even a third, if you’re not sure. Consult your child’s dentist, your dentist, maybe their pediatrician. Talk to whatever experts you think you need to. But if they do need orthodontia, I think it’s much better to do it early while it’s easier to move the teeth around and before other problems develop.

Incidentally, one of my kids was underweight to the point they had to go to a gastroenterologist. The braces and palatal expander were not the problem and if they had any effect on the weight at all, it was negligible.

[Anonymous]

Mine both had expanders around 8yo. My younger one wound up not even needing braces after. The expander created the room for her permanent teeth to come in straight. Earlier intervention is definitely better.

[Anonymous]

I would not. You don’t even know if the kid will need braces! I have terrible teeth as do all my siblings, but my kid’s permanent teeth came in totally straight.

[Anonymous]

My 8yo had one and his overcrowded, crooked teeth are nearly straight now. no impact on eating and weight. The first month of turning to expand was annoying, but after that, no big deal.

The same ortho has recommended no treatment for my older kid-so I don’t think he’s the type to push unnecessary intervention.

[Anonymous]

My kids had expanders and so did a lot of their friends. It was pretty obvious that they needed it. There was visibly not room for their adult teeth to grow in. But you can def get second and third opinions.

[Anonymous]

Echoing the comments saying get a second opinion. The two we got were night and day and it definitely seemed like the first was trying to do a hard sell. We are seeing the second for treatment.

[Anonymous]

Do your research on how palate size affects sinus health, sleep apnea, etc.

[Anonymous]

No one needs an expander. You can do the same work with extractions and different levels of Invisalign or braces. My 16 yr old DD was pathologically terrified of expanders at age 8 so we found a way around it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that older orthodontists pull teeth, rather lightly.

Younger orthodontists are trained to try hard to save healthy teeth.

I would recommend a consult with Dr. Gerlein in Bethesda. He is VERY expensive , but saved my child 4 extractions. And her teeth are beautiful.

Yes I was also told pulling teeth was old school and can weaken your jaw bone long term. An expander us not a big deal and should not affect eating after a day ish.

Run far far away from any dentist/ortho that tells you pulling teeth will “weaken the jawbone long term.” Total BS.

- dentist