Why Have a Palate Expander if You're Getting Braces Anyway???

Hi  Friends!
I hope you are all doing well with your palate expanders! I've had mine off now for about a month but I still like to be in touch with you and say hello because if you are reading this, that means you are going through the experience of having a palate expander and I am certainly someone who understands what you are going through.

One of the questions I've gotten over and over is...

Why Have A Palate Expander If You're Getting Braces Anyway?????

I asked my wonderful dentist the answer to this question which is...

"The palatal expander really is treating the bones to ensure that the upper and lower jaws are the same size.  Yes, the teeth move now but it's because their is more space. Braces alone do not correct this problem."
I hope that answered the question.

One of our readers mentioned that her palate expander broke but after all the turns were done, so her dentist took it off. I know you are supposed to keep it on for awhile after you are done turning the key, but if this reader can let us know how long ago the turns stopped, that would be great.

I hope you all have a good day.
Your Friend
Colin :)

Answers to Some of Your Comments

First I have to say that I learned a lot about 9/11 in school this week and even though I know that I wasn't born then, I hope that it never happens again and that we are all safe and happy.

Found this online and thought it was interesting to share on my blog. These are two different kinds of palate expanders. I had the one on the left.

Now to answer some of your comments...
To Alexa:
Alexa got her palate expander on last week but this week will start to turn it. Alexa was like me - we both first got it on and then we waited before we started turning. With me, my dentist thought I was a little nervous so he wanted me to get used to it. I talked to my dentist about this and he said that sometimes kids get so scared with the palate exander so the dentist will have them get used to it before they start doing the key.
To Lucy:
Lucy wrote and said that having a palate expander is not fun. It is NOT something that is fun, but I tried to look at the positives and sometimes you will see that I wrote lists like "what you can do with a palate expander." I tried to make it funny. Maybe you can add some to the list and I can make a new list.
To Jessica:
Jessica wanted to know if I am eating a lot of popcorn now that the expander is off and the answer is YES, YES YES!!! and my Mom is happy to be able to give me popcorn for my school snack again. Yey!

I still check my blog almost every day so if you questions, I can answer it. Remember, I went through this and I know what you are thinking and how you are feeling and so are all of the thousands of people that have checked my blog.
Have a good day.
Your Friend, Colin

Here is the video of me getting my palate expander off

Hi to my Online friends,

These are the videos of me getting my palate expander off. From Your Friend, Colin :)