Good question... Are your teeth crowded?

Palatal expanders are not all created equal.  I'll have to make a video on this... way too hard to explain by text medium.  Plus there are too many individualized faces/differences to account for.  The proper treatment must be uniquely suited to each individual.  This is one of THE most confusing decisions out there & the primary driver of my research.  Unfortunately, even orthodontists can't really explain this well or look to things with the same level of scrutiny on the face.

Here's a few considerations:

Arch sizing, teeth sizing, intramolar width, arch length and perimeter, goals, etc.  In fact... There can sometimes be competing objectives.  The best suggestion I can make is to do this...

Get some consults.  Look for an orthodontist who has the biggest, widest smile you've ever seen.  Typically, unconsciously orthodontists make their patients look like themselves.  Even if you find the perfect treatment out there, there may not be anyone close who is familiar with it.  You want to find someone who not only has a good technology, but who can use it successfully.

In the United States... orthodontists ask... what are you treating for?  They ask what the objectives are.  There is some kind of obligation here through the society they're in on accomplishing toward that objective.  If you say that your objective is to get a broader smile... then they can aim for that.  Make sense?

Posted by: darkindigo

Palatal expanders are not all created equal.  I'll have to make a video on this... way too hard to explain by text medium.

I'm not really sure what defines crowded. I smile with about 8 teeth if that is any use. I might have to upload a picture later.

Also my palate is off centered. I can fit more of my tongue on the left side than the right. My left cheekbone is more prominent than the right. My  right eyelid sometimes droop. What is the cause of all this?

Posted by: darkindigo

Palatal expanders are not all created equal.  I'll have to make a video on this... way too hard to explain by text medium.  Plus there are too many individualized faces/differences to account for.  The proper treatment must be uniquely suited to each individual.  This is one of THE most confusing decisions out there & the primary driver of my research.  Unfortunately, even orthodontists can't really explain this well or look to things with the same level of scrutiny on the face.

Here's a few considerations:

Arch sizing, teeth sizing, intramolar width, arch length and perimeter, goals, etc.  In fact... There can sometimes be competing objectives.  The best suggestion I can make is to do this...

Get some consults.  Look for an orthodontist who has the biggest, widest smile you've ever seen.  Typically, unconsciously orthodontists make their patients look like themselves.  Even if you find the perfect treatment out there, there may not be anyone close who is familiar with it.  You want to find someone who not only has a good technology, but who can use it successfully.

In the United States... orthodontists ask... what are you treating for?  They ask what the objectives are.  There is some kind of obligation here through the society they're in on accomplishing toward that objective.  If you say that your objective is to get a broader smile... then they can aim for that.  Make sense?

Okay I see what you mean, thanks for the info.

Do you think a palatal expander will fix any problems I mentioned above?

Posted by: chic0o

Posted by: darkindigo

Palatal expanders are not all created equal.  I'll have to make a video on this... way too hard to explain by text medium.

I'm not really sure what defines crowded. I smile with about 8 teeth if that is any use. I might have to upload a picture later.

Also my palate is off centered. I can fit more of my tongue on the left side than the right. My left cheekbone is more prominent than the right. My  right eyelid sometimes droop. What is the cause of all this?

Good question.  There can be a number of factors.  Asymmetries are difficult to diagnose and assess properly.  Even Dr. Mike Mew doesn't really get into or address them.  From what I do know... I can say a little.  Tooth loss, asymmetrical chewing, uneven tongue strength, usually something that developed as a child.  The right eye drooping is not a surprise.  The dental and eye systems have some shared real estate...  even if indirectly.  Others here are also looking to treat asymmetries.  There is something in the U.S. where if you go to an orthodontist... you tell them your goals.  There is some societal obligation to treat to those goals.  Many who are over their head or unsure whether they can deliver results will pass.

Posted by: chic0o

Posted by: darkindigo

Palatal expanders are not all created equal.  I'll have to make a video on this... way too hard to explain by text medium.  Plus there are too many individualized faces/differences to account for.  The proper treatment must be uniquely suited to each individual.  This is one of THE most confusing decisions out there & the primary driver of my research.  Unfortunately, even orthodontists can't really explain this well or look to things with the same level of scrutiny on the face.

Here's a few considerations:

Arch sizing, teeth sizing, intramolar width, arch length and perimeter, goals, etc.  In fact... There can sometimes be competing objectives.  The best suggestion I can make is to do this...

Get some consults.  Look for an orthodontist who has the biggest, widest smile you've ever seen.  Typically, unconsciously orthodontists make their patients look like themselves.  Even if you find the perfect treatment out there, there may not be anyone close who is familiar with it.  You want to find someone who not only has a good technology, but who can use it successfully.

In the United States... orthodontists ask... what are you treating for?  They ask what the objectives are.  There is some kind of obligation here through the society they're in on accomplishing toward that objective.  If you say that your objective is to get a broader smile... then they can aim for that.  Make sense?

Okay I see what you mean, thanks for the info.

Do you think a palatal expander will fix any problems I mentioned above?

There has been a lot of recent development of palatal expansion for adults... surgical and otherwise.  There are many variables to consider.  Sorry it's not much help.  I do think Vivos is probably in the best position for appliance expansion in adults... though I also have reservations.

Where are you at?

I live in the Balkans and going to move to the UK in a few years. Which orthodontist is ideal for me?

Posted by: chic0o

I live in the Balkans and going to move to the UK in a few years. Which orthodontist is ideal for me?

Good question.  Finding someone who's familiar with some of the more appropriate technologies may be suitable.  I don't know what the best technologies would be appropriate.  TBH (to be honest).  Typically, if there intermolar width is very narrow... with larger buccal corridors... then that may impact negatively on airway.  That can have an effect on sleep... and potentially even hurt mental health... or impact breathing disorders... even high blood pressure.  Airway health is very important... so resolving it appropriately if impacted is important.  I don't know that this is the case here.  If someone can run a CBCT then that could be helpful.  3D cone beam CT can show the airway.  That is not to say that orthodontists who don't have this can't help appropriately.   Beyond that I can't comment.  Sorry.

I've thought about this and I could be wrong.. i'm just guessing, but maybe a wider mouth is the result of a wider palate at the front where the teeth are. If you feel around the palate, you'll feel where it curves inwards all the way around. When you expand the back there is more space there so maybe the front of the palate needs to be wider too so more of the side teeth show when smiling. This might create a wider smile.

If you look at before and after pictures of teeth then you should see some teeth where the palate seems very wide at the back but then the area of the palate and teeth go inwards a bit. I think the palate needs to be a very wide 'U' shape instead of a wide 'V'.