Palatal Expander for child with SPD

[ineedanewbum]

Hi.

Not sure if this is the right area to post this in.

Do any parents have experience of their child having a palatal expander fitted where the child has sensory processing disorder.

My DS is due to have this fitted in a few weeks. We've already had 1 failed attempt last year. He is 10. I am looking for tips or to hear anyones experience of it. He needs braces also but they'll come later. He also has dyspraxia so cleaning has always been that little bit tougher for him although he is quite good now on that score.

Any advice would be welcome, thanks.

Hi I'm an orthodontic nurse. Is he having a SARPE? Or one not surgically inserted? Some patients with his condition unfortunately just cannot tolerate these appliances as they are a completely large foreign object in the roof of the mouth. I'm sure the orthodontist wouldn't have suggested it though if they didn't believe it was a viable option. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for your response. It's not being surgically fitted. I'm not sure what SARPE is but that acronym hasn't been mentioned to me. It's being fitted with tiny elastics? Sorry my terminology must be awful. The orthodontist showed us a video and just seems like tiny elastics to hold it in place and he will also have reverse pull headgear to wear. I have booked him in for a cleaning before we go to try and get him used to the feeling of something happening in his mouth. Don't know if that will help or hinder.

Thanks again.

RME plus Facemask ?
That is a lot for a neurotypical 10 yr old DC to cope with, although many do fine
Obviously you are in the best position to judge but my opinion is consider delaying for a year or so

I'm just concerned as we've already delayed for a year at this point so am trying to give the best possible chance of him allowing it. But, yes it's a lot alright I feel. I have explained it all in detail alongside the videos and told him that although it will very possibly hurt a few days at each appointment and will feel strange in his mouth but that he will adjust with time. I've also bought a water pik for him to use. He is quite good with flossing and brushing too so I'm hoping he is that year older and can bear it.

Just a quick update for anyone who is in a similar situation. DS will shortly have his expander removed. He has done brilliantly over the last year and was so good to wear his headgear and very rarely complained. Felt strange to him at the start and we had one or two little upset times but overall he found it ok to manage and is super excited to have it removed.

We aren't sure if he will still need to wear headgear once the expander is gone and he still has to have the braces etc although we have a small set of braces on the front 4 top teeth. But we're getting there and he's doing great so anyone else in the same boat - there is hope.

I needed to read this this morning,thank you. My son had his expander fitted yesterday, he has dyspraxia and SPD. If by any chance you see this and can post any tips to help I would be beyond grateful.
He had a really rough day trying to eat/food getting stuck and feeling like he was choking. I managed to get a water flosser on same day delivery that helped removing stuck food.
I was really unprepared and didn't anticipate the effect it would have on him x I'm so glad it worked out for ur child x