upper arch expansion (how serious)

Vampireskiss

After a consultation with an orthodontist it was discovered that before I get braces I need to get my upper arch expanded as my bite needs correction. He also said I may need to have further surgery on my lower jaw but was not sure at this point, how serious is this procedure?

vishal

expansion may be surgically assisted or not. There are two types of surgical expansion. One is surgically assisted Rapid Palatal expansion, the other is they divide your upper jaw into segments and surgically separate the segments.

It would have been easier if you had this treated as a child.

wouldn't worry too much about non-surgical.
a little worry for SARPE. http://www.bracesreview.com/sarpe-jaw-surgery-expansion-information.html
and more worry for the third.

Orthoman

Hi,
Just check that the chap doing the treatment is a qualified orthodontist, on the specialist register and not a general dentist. Some general dentists do a lot of expansion in cases which are unsuitable, and there is a high tendency to relapse as the result is unstable. Just because a dentist may do a lot of orthodontics does not mean he is a specialist and may not be qualified. He need not be a memeber of the Orthodontic society of Ireland, but he must be on the specialist register.:o

Kila

Might I recommend visiting www.archwired.com? They have a forum for people with braces, and one of the boards is specifically for people having dental surgeries. So you'll be able to talk to people who have had all different kinds of orthodontic procedures.

I found it extremely helpful when I was making my initial decisions to get braces.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I am putting that link in the sticky at the top of the forum, thanks Kila

Kila

You're welcome. I found it a really great resource when I was starting out in braces, both in terms of information, and simply being able to connect with other adults in various stages of ortho treatment.