English > Orthodontic Treatment

Tongue crib and expander

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Anita:
I recently started orthodontic treatment for crowding and a large overjet and overbite. It's gotten worse over time. My orthodontist said I have a tongue thrusting habit that must be corrected and started my treatment by putting on partial braces and an upper expander with tongue crib. I got them last week and they are very uncomfortable. My speech is bad with a lisp and it's hard to eat, swallow, and speak. My orthodontist said I would adjust and recommended speech therapy. I had my first appointment on Friday and my speech therapist gave me exercises for improving my speech and retraining my tongue so it doesn't thrust against my teeth. I want the appliance out, but my speech therapist and orthodontist but think it is really important. The expander is also painful and I have to turn it with a key.

bracessd:
How long do they say you'll need to have the appliances?

Anita:
He said I would need the expander for 9 months. He said I would need the crib for longer and maybe for the remainder of my treatment. But it's attached to the expander, so he said I would either get a new fixed crib after the expander is out or hopefully a removable one.

 

bracessd:
Wow, that sounds intense

Anita:
It's really uncomfortable and difficult to speak with. I also got a herbst now and can't speak. I am going to speech therapy and seeing if that helps.

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