RPE appliance coming out... FINALY!!!

[Guest guest]

So I had the SARPE (surgically assisted rapid paletal expansion) for

those that aren't with the lingo, yet. I've mentioned before that

the surgery is something I would do again in a heartbeat. The pain

was there, but not killer and the recovery was better than expected,

taking into account my jaw was broken. I only had/needed expansion

on the upper jaw to correct my cross bite, but also got some forward

movement which pushed my upper lip forward and correcting my class

III maliclusion (where the upper lip seems to be further back than

the bottom). In any case, I needed a lot of expansion so i pushed

the appliance to its limit of 12 millimeters, or 1.2 centimeters!

pretty crazy. I agreed with my ortho that to try to avoid as much

the possbility of regression in the expansion, I would leave the

appliance on for more time than called for. I am very happy and

excited to say that the time is almost up. I began my relationship

with the appliance on august 24th, three days before my surgery. I

will be ending that same relationship on March 10th, 6 1/2 months

later. I dont really remember why I choked on the Appliance the

first week i had it, cause now it seems so normal to have it on, I

can hardly notice speech problems, or eating problems. It took a

good month to get used to it, and though I am now used to it, I am

very very excited to have it removed, and to feel the freedom in my

mouth again. Ahhh, the mere thought is relaxing. Good luck to all

those deciding whether or not to get braces and/or surgically

assisted orthodontics.

RD