Expander question

[vlsh]

I've had my spring expander on for about 2 weeks now along with my top braces. During the first week I sort of had a dull ache in my cheekbones, which I think means they're working? But it just doesn't seem like anything is moving or shifting yet, I know it's only been 2 weeks but there's no gap or anything in my front teeth or anything.

Anyways, for those that have had expanders...

1. What kind of expander did you have? (RPE, helix, spring, etc.)
2. How long did it take until you noticed any movement/shifting difference in your teeth? (time from when they went on until gap in front tooth, or shifting of teeth)
3. How long do/did you have to wear it?
4. Has anyone ever had an ortho say the expander failed to work on them?


Answering my own questions:
1. I have a spring expander.
2. No movement that I can notice of.
3. Ortho said 8-12 months.
4. Haven't been to another visit with ortho yet since I've had them put on 2 weeks ago.

[Denise]

My sister wore an expander for four months. I don't know what kind it was - all I know is she had a key, and had to turn it three times to the left, and two to the right every week. She didn't see any movement in her teeth at all with the expander, far as she knew it was just to help correct her bite. Yes, it is possible for expanders not to work. That's when they will recommend surgery to split your palate.

[chris james]

hey vish i have a removeable bottom expander and didnt see any results till a month i have to tighten it once a week with a key
went to the ortho today and said have one more month till fixed braces go on even though he said the epander has done its job he still recons another month of wear
i hated it at first but as it broke he had to send it back to the lab for repair and i feel like my mouth is empty
not looking forward to fixed braces though
good luck with your ortho treatment

[MorningLight]

I had a RPE for seven months. It was supposed to be for 5 months, but there was a wait for appointments so it was in longer...oh well...it had stopped doing it's job by then and I was already in braces so it wasn't doing anything either than bugging me.
I never noticed any spacing between my teeth. The only way I knew it was working was that I could feel the gap between the plastic on the roof of my mouth. When it was put in, there wasn't anything and by the time it came out, I had about 5mm of space between the two pieces. It ached every so often so I'd push up on it with my tongue...yk, like counterpressure...and it helped for a short time. It did its work.

[shutterbug]

I had an RPE not too long ago. I had one placed in Dec 08 and it was removed 3-4 months later. It didn't take very long for me to notice a gap forming inbetween my two front teeth, I had been instructed to turn twice a day. My gap formed to be a few milimetres wide before I had my braces put on and the gap closed within weeks.