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Braces: Necessary Evil or Sadistic T...

The TVClubHouse: Archives: 2004 January - Arpil: Braces: Necessary Evil or Sadistic Torture? users admin

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Archive through April 14, 2004Landi25 04-14-04  9:11 pm
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Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 9:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
yeah, the liquid advil comes in blue raspberry, which was a hit. about the only thing that was a hit today.

I'll look for the Carnation instant breakfast for him, It has to have at least a few more vitamins than chocolate milk.

Poor little thing finally wimpered and cried himself to sleep. I may just have to do the same.

thanks, landi - every bit of info does help. I never had braces or any problems with my teeth growing up, still don't. Sure wish Kyle had taken after me in that regard!

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 10:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
He may not have your teeth, but I am sure he has your heart!

One of the hardest parts about being a parent is seeing your child in pain and not being able to take it away.

I hope he feels better soon Kar! (((( hugs to Kar & Kyle!))))

Kady
Member

07-30-2000

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 10:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Poor baby...if he didn't want a new game, then he must be hurting.

My son often doesn't want to eat in the mornings and likes the cans of Instant Breakfast. He also will drink the Boost and Ensure for a meal replacement. He likes the taste of Boost better.

I also give Matthew an advil before each trip to the orthodontist. It seems to help prevent pain.

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 10:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kady, that's a good point. My dentist has me take ibuprofen before any novocaine wears off. He usually gives it to me right there in the office.

Kar, the Boost and/or Ensure is another good idea. Sarah had to have Ensure to supplement her diet when she was younger. Also, if you run out of the liquid Advil, you can grind up a regular tablet and put it in a small amount of juice or milk. We've had to do that also and it worked well.

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 10:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks zmom. For all the pain he is in, he's really not complaining much. Just cries a little now and then, and curls up next to me and just hangs on.

I have some Snapple meal replacements, maybe he'll drink those and at least get some protein. If I can get him out to the store tomorrow, I'll try some of those others. At least he's off school till Monday, so there's no pressure for him to get up and perform.

You're right, Zmom, it's so hard seeing him so miserable. I'd much rather carry the pain for him, if I could.


Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 11:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Carnation Instant Breakfast, good stuff. Chocolate and Chocolate Malt are both good.

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 10:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks again all of you for your support and suggestions. I megadosed the poor little fella with blue raspberry flavored motrin last night, and he slept for 10 hours. He sure needed it. He seems in much better spirits today, altho the eating is still a problem. We tried pancakes this morning, but they kept wadding up in that darned expander, and he'd feel like he was gagging, so every bite he'd have to wash down with a half glass of milk (at least he's drinking lots of milk). He managed to get two mini pancakes down.

He is feeling well enough to take me up on the video game offer now, so I see that as improvement!

Brenda1966
Member

07-03-2002

Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 11:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I don't know a darn thing about palatte expanders, but if it were my kid I'd be tempted to not tighten it every night while he's in that much pain. Maybe a less aggressive schedule would reduce the pain? I'd certain ask the dentist and be honest about how often you had been tightening it (or not tightening it).

I had a head gear as a kid and I did not wear it the recommended 12 hours a day. Nope, not going to embarrass myself nor put myself in pain that long each day. I wore it to bed at night and my teeth moved just fine. Maybe it took a bit longer but it was worth it.



Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 1:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thank you Brenda for your comments.

I did ask the dentist about a less aggressive schedule, unfortunately he said that makes the pain worse. The intial pain is caused by pulling the palate apart, so the first few days are the worst. But if you skip some days, then the palate tries to grow back together, causing more intense pain the next time you adjust.

He did suggest giving him motrin an hour before doing the adjustment, said that helps some kids feel less pain.

I just know I'm not looking forward to tonight's adjustment.

And thanks for the info on the headgear. The doc said the more you wear it, the quicker you can get out of it, they recommend 12-14 hours a day. But this way I can let my son decide - either just at night, and have to sleep with it longer, or more often, and just be done with it completely sooner. That choice stuff really helps him feel like he has at least a little control, which helps him cope better.

Brenda1966
Member

07-03-2002

Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 2:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Karuuna, the palate thing sounds just awful! I hope the initial pain passes quickly.

Hopefully your son's teeth will move quickly like mine did. They thought I'd have to wear braces and head gear for a lot longer than I did. My teeth were so bad I'd have gladly done it, but I know the pain part was never easy to take.



Egbok
Member

07-13-2000

Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 2:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kar, I know I'm probably a little late in sharing my dd's palate expander story, however, as I recall (because this was about 12-13 years ago), I would have to turn the key half a crank at whatever the prescribed schedule was back then. I was told to give her Tylenol an hour before to help take the edge off. I do remember her wearing the headgear as well. I'm thinking she must have a high pain tolerance because she never complained about pain, so I guess I lucked out with this process. She ended up with a very gorgeous smile!

I do feel for you as a mom in having to do something like this which you know brings pain to your beautiful little boy. Please try to keep in mind that you must put on that brave mom face and keep him pumped up about the eventual outcome which will stay with him for life. Your style of delivery really does help to keep him even keeled about the whole process and I know you know that but I just wanted to reach out and try to help you stay focused...here's a hug to help too!
((((Karuuna and Son))))


Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 8:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
How is he doing? Is he able to eat yet? I have been thinking of him (and you!)

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 9:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Brenda - all I know is the orthodontist looked at Kyle's mouth and said he'd never seen an upper jaw so much smaller than the lower jaw. He also said the normal period for adjusting that expander was 21 days, but with Kyle, he'd have to go at least 28.

Eggie - I'm staying very brave, but at the same time I don't want him to feel bad for expressing his suffering, or make light of it. It's a tough balancing act, to empathize and acknowledge how awful he feels, but then try to help him find ways to cope. You know that we all need to wallow sometimes too. :-) Thanks for your hugs and kindness.

Zmom- thanks for asking. Last night's adjustment was an absolute nightmare, he just sobbed and sobbed, even tho I gave him Motrin an hour before. He hardly ate a thing yesterday, and thru most of the day today - no breakfast, and a handful of noodles for lunch. Then I convinced him to go to the grocery store with me mid-afternoon, and I let him cruise the aisles, picking things he thought might work. We got canned fruit (esp mandarin oranges), some toddler hot dogs, mac & cheese in his favorite characters, slices of OM processed turkey breast, and some jello in a tube which we froze. Since then he's been eating pretty well. I even cooked some carrots till they were almost mush and he ate those with dinner. He's also learning to not gag when he has stuff caught up in that darned expander. He has to drink lots of water, sometimes after every bite, to get rid of the food that accumulates, but hopefully he'll get more used to just leaving it there, and not letting it bug him so much. Then he can rinse when he's done. That's what they say he's gotta do....gross as it sounds.

And tonight's adjustment was still awful, but not quite as awful as last night, so maybe things are looking up.

Thanks all for your warm thoughts and caring. This mom stuff can feel awfully lonely sometimes, and your help and support really helps me carry it off much better than I could alone!

Spygirl
Member

04-23-2001

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 10:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Karuuna, I have read this thread since you started it and it has made my heart hurt. I have never heard of an expander, and I can't believe they have created something that requires a parent to have to cause that kind of pain for their own kid <sigh>. I know that it is good for him in the long run, but how terrible right now!

I will pray that the next few days get rapidly and significantly better for both of you.

(((KYLE and Kar)))


Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 9:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
my holly was very very lucky. she was born (like I) with a very high palate, so the food wasn't so accumulating. she basically liked baby foods, because they didn't make her gag. she was in her palate spreader for about a month and a half, when it reached the point that it just came off. and we were done. yes it was hard to be the mom during this time. and it was hard on holly, i also know the differences when i look at her mouth now. we are just days from being done. i have the impressions from when we first started. i'll look for them tonight and take pictures, so you can all understand. we have spent about $6,000 (dental insurance paid 1/2) and it has been worth every penny. karuuna, i know it's hard now, but it will be over VERY SOON.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Baby food! There's an idea. I always LOVED Gerber baby food plums for some reason, even as an adult.

Not1worry
Member

07-30-2002

Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 6:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Karuuna, I haven't been keeping up as well with the threads, so I'm just now reading these. I hope your DS feels better soon!!! I know how tough it must be going through this.

The dentist have said my son has cross bite. Sort of an underbite on one side and an overbite on the other. He's 8 right now, and they said that in the next year or so he should get a palate spreader. I had thought that it seemed kind of unnecessary. I have an overbite that might have looked better fixed, but doesn't cause me any trouble. After reading all these posts, I'm dreading my DS's time, but thinking that maybe he needs it more than I'd assumed.

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 6:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Juju - well, toddler food. But at least it's something. Those little meat sticks smell awful (esp to a vegetarian), but I"m just glad he's eating.

Not1 - Palate spreaders seem to be standard treatment nowadays. My son's problems are fairly extreme, he's never really been able to bite anything, since his front teeth don't meet. He kind of tears things off. If allowed to go untreated, he would have to have 4-6 teeth removed on the top because there just isn't room. But since his lower jaw is plenty big, it would be really odd for him and he'd always have trouble.

So, I guess it is a necessary evil, and slowly but surely he seems to be adjusting. These first days have certainly been awful. And I'm not looking forward to the headgear piece of it that comes next. I just keep trying to tell myself, it's only a year....and it's got to get better....

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 6:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Spy - thanks for your support. It's bad enough to not be able to fix your child's pain, but to cause it seems perverse somehow. On the positive side, Kyle seems to understand and appreciate that I hate doing it, but that it just needs to be done. And that I'll hold him or hug him or whatever he needs to feel better afterward.

Landi - Kyle is going to have to have the adjustments every day for a month, and then it will take at least 4-6 months for bone to form, before the expander can be removed, or his jaw will move back together. It's just that his jaw is so so narrow. And the headgear. 11 months of that.

We'll adapt. The intensity and difficulty of it all was just such a shock. I do think the orthodontist should have been more forthcoming beforehand, so I could have been better prepared, and then be better able to help Kyle thru it.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 10:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i guess i should really get into details about holly's treatment. atthe age of 4 we had our first consultation with the orthodontist. (actually it was my orthodontist that i had as a child). we took our first impressions. at the age of 6 the oral surgeon removed 6 teeth in the front and punched the top of her upper palate. we then went and had the palate spreader put in. it lasted about a month and a half. then a permanent retainer (a strong wire on the inside of her top teeth was put in. allowing the new teeth room to grow in, which they did. then the first set of braces and brackets. that lasted about a year. then a retainer. then a year off. then back into braces, we just got out of headgear about 2 months ago, she's in rubber bands and the 20th is the big day for removal. then it will be a permanent retainer on the bottom, and a removable one of the top for a couple of years. hope this helps. holly is going to be 14 on the 27th.

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 9:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yikes, Landi... that all sounds awful, and you certainly made me grimace with that "punched the top of the upper palate", don't know what that means, but I'm not sure I want to!

Sounds like she's had braces almost all of her life at this point!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
she's only had "braces" for 2 periods of about a year and a half each. it SOUNDS awful, but not nearly that bad. doing everything this young has taken longer, but better to do it this way, as it was less intrusive. only the palate spreading was the painful part. and the rest could not have been done without it.

Weinermr
Member

08-18-2001

Monday, April 19, 2004 - 9:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OMG Kar! I haven't been in this thread until now. Poor Kyle for having to deal with such torture, and so hard on you too. And I thought my regular braces and headgear were painful.

Besides the instant breakfast, which is a great idea, what about liquidy milkshakes? They'll get calories into him, and the cold may numb some of the pain. You can even add the instant breakfast to the milkshake to make it more nutritious. I also hear that mushy french fries may help.

The best of luck to both of you throughout this painful medical ordeal. {{{{Kar and Kyle}}}}

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Monday, April 19, 2004 - 2:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Karuuna: Just read this thread - I feel so bad for you and your son. Hope things get easier for him soon!

Oh, and I've found that apple juice is really good for sore mouths.

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 10:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, Weiner & Calamity for your caring.

On the positive side, Kyle has been able to eat a few more solids the last two days and seems to be adjusting to the ordeal. He's now feeling well enough to try to think of clever ways to get out of the toothbrushing and flouride rinse ritual.

On the negative side, the last two nights I've had trouble with the little key that adjusts the screw in the palate expander. You have to insert this thing at the front of the screw and then move it to the back of his mouth, at which point you have to extract it toward the back of his mouth so as to not undo the turn.

But the last two nights the key has gotten stuck in the screw. Since you have to push it toward the back of his mouth, there's not a lot of room to manuveur before I hit the back of his throat causing him to gag, and yes, regurgitate. Last night he spit up a little on both of us and he was just mortified. And I felt awful for causing it.

Tonight I tried spraying a little Pam coating on the key, thinking it would slide out easier. But no, it was stuck even worse than last night. Again, I gagged him and made him cry. I hate that look of shock and pain and surprise on his face. Luckily, no throwing up tonight.

I'm not sure why all of a sudden the stupid thing is getting stuck, but if any of you that used these awful devices have any ideas, I'd sure appreciate it. I had no trouble at all with getting it out the first five nights.

7 adjustments down, 21 more to go. On the bright side, the gagging takes Kyle's mind off the pain. Is that a bright side?

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 10:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kar, I have absolutely no experience with braces, except for friends who have had them.

But I have been following this thread, as it breaks my heart that you and Kyle are going through this. But the love and trust the two of you have for each other is shining through your posts.

I hope he feels better, gagging and vomiting is awful :-(



Nightowl
Member

08-16-2000

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 11:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Karuuna - I was "lucky" enough to have an expander when I was high school and got to turn the key myself. At the age of ten I had all kinds of teeth pulled and STILL had to have the jaw expander five years later. The worst part for me was having the thing put on. They had to use a little hammer device and it felt like they were knocking my teeth through the top of my head.

I would suggest maybe asking the orthodontist for an extra key or two. Maybe the tip is getting a little distorted and having trouble fitting the hole properly. Also, have you thought about letting DS turn the key himself...with your strict supervision of course! Since it is not as painful as when you first started (but still painful nonetheless), he might feel more in control and it might take his mind off the gag reflex. Also he might have smaller fingers than yours which could help. Try not to worry, it gets so much less painful the further along you are in the treatment.

Best of luck to you and DS! I hope this helps!

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 10:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, Zmom. We do have a great relationship, he's a great kid. I tell him every day that I'm the luckiest mom in the world, 'cause I am! :-)

NOwl - ouch! I didnt think they could do the expander in the teen years, my understanding is that they have to do it before puberty, before the suture in the upper jaw turns to bone? Did they have to do surgery to open the suture?

Kyle refuses to try to turn the key himself at this point, I did offer. It is getting less painful, that's why it's disappointing that we have this new setback. I was hoping we'd be moving into easier territory.

And after we're done with this nightly adjustment, he gets head gear! Sheesh. He looked at me this morning, and said, "hey mom, I've only got 51 more weeks to go!" ... and we both just started laughing. He's really an amazing fella. :-)

Nightowl
Member

08-16-2000

Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 12:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Luckily my palate, upper jaw, whatever you call it had not fused yet so there was no oral surgery involved. I do recall having to turn the key for a much longer period of time than y'all are talking about...probably for the whole first semester of freshman year. Then the darn thing didn't come out until sometime in the sophomore year...maybe it took longer due to my age??? Who knows...this was about fifteen years ago, maybe the expanders are a little different now.

Karuuna, your Kyle sounds like an awesome little boy. At least he's looking at the bright side!!!