Hey there!

I getting braces for the first time at 37. So excited.

I have had the initial consultation. I need a posterior crossbite corrected on one side. They said it would be braces on at the next appointment, but they didn't give me any spacers so I assume they won't use molar bands. I did want an expander put in but they said they can fix it with just braces. Although I don't want anything retracted or pulled in, and I know that happens with crossbite elastics a little bit.

The main reason I want molar bands (or ideally an expander) is just because I love them.

Do you think there's any way of encouraging my ortho to give me molar bands without confusing her or sounding crazy?

Or maybe I could say I absolutely don't want any teeth retracted inwards, and just by the laws of physics they'll have to give me an expander?

Thanks everyone!

I think it’s awesome that you’re excited about getting braces!

As for your plan, getting consults from multiple orthodontists is a great idea. However, you might not find any who will give you an expander. Stiff, thick archwires are able to do a little bit of widening, and that might be more than enough for your crossbite. And I don’t know why elastics for a crossbite would cause “retraction”.

For molar bands, it does seem like a lot of orthos don’t use them unless you’re getting some sort of appliance. I will be getting some on the bottom for a lower lingual holding arch when I get a Carriere appliance, but I won’t have them when I get full braces after that. They will use them, however, if the bracket on the molar keeps falling off, or if there’s a filling or crown or something that causes an issue with it staying attached.

I don’t want to come across as a downer, but want you to be realistic instead of getting your hopes up too high. I would get consults from a several orthos, and choose one based on how comfortable you feel at that office and how much the treatment makes sense (without your interest in braces coloring this too much).

If there’s some appliance you really want to see what it feels like to wear after that, buy some fakes after your treatment is done.

Everyone? No; I think you want it to line up well with the mandible, and for a lot of people that will already be the case. And for adults, unless you have surgery to reopen the suture, an expander isn’t going to do anything to improve nasal airflow or anything like that. It‘ll tip the teeth out, or push them out further in the bone, maybe.

If you can find someone who will do it if you pay them, more power to you. But it might not be the best option for you. I think if you talk to enough orthodontists, you’ll get an accurate picture of the state of your teeth/jaws and what would be best to do. Maybe some do recommend an expander. Maybe some recommend jaw surgery. Maybe some recommend extractions; you can ask those orthos what other options there are that would avoid extractions.

Sorry, tomorrowdies, but it looks like you have been taken in by the conspiracy theories expounded by some of the more cranky dental providers on the net!

What Person said above is a decent summary of the actual science.

By all means get opinions from as many properly qualified orthodontists as you want- then trust their expertise.

Good luck with your treatment. I hope you enjoy it and get good results.

I agree with you that a wider mouth usually means better breathing, better athletic performance, and it's more aesthetically pleasing... just be careful not to exaggerate! I loved my RPE, I had it for 7 months and it's what made me realize I had a braces kink. I hope you get one as well

Sorry, tomorrowdies, but it looks like you have been taken in by the conspiracy theories expounded by some of the more cranky dental providers on the net!

What Person said above is a decent summary of the actual science.

By all means get opinions from as many properly qualified orthodontists as you want- then trust their expertise.

Good luck with your treatment. I hope you enjoy it and get good results.

Haha I didn't believe it at first, but I have pictures to prove it. Huge changes. Two orthodontists responses have been "Wow!" and complete fascination.

You guys are all in orthodontic dogma. Expansion will work in adults, has been documented, is possible, and I can clearly see that it's happened in me. It depends on tongue posture. I know this to be true. Muscle will always win in a battle with bone.

I saw an ortho who had already done a consultation, about expansion. The manager said they will re-evaluate. She did the re-evaluation for like 3 mins, and just said "Yes, you need braces, expander, and wisdom teeth extracted". As soon as that happened I was like "Yup, I'm leaving"

I'm in contact with another ortho who understands

I agree with all of this, but also I believe tongue posture and swallowing habits (both of which I have drastically changed) play a huge factor. Let's not forget most orthodontists are looking at a range of cases, from people with more developed jaws to people who can't even get their tongue on the roof of their mouth because their jaw is so underdeveloped.

I went through a lot of pain and discomfort correcting my tongue posture. Yes, with a hyrax expander you'll have to go slow, but I believe it's possible to get intermolar width closer to genetic potential with a hyrax, I just suspect that it must be supported with good to tongue posture.

I don't really want to post pic, but I do have pics showing a huge difference in posture change. But if I get braces and a hyrax, I will
 post photos showing its possible.