Palate Expansion

[FourAngelKisses]

Brooke will be having her palate expansion done in August to make room for her adult teeth. They are waiting for one of her front teeth to come through, then they will fit the appliance (www.zipcon.net/~brunt/SARPE.html).

Has anyone ever had this done or know of anyone who has? Just wondering if it is very painful and how much it costs. Medicare cover 75-85% of the costs, but that's still a lot of money we have to fork out. Plus the thought of my baby going through all that pain is heartbreaking. :(

[matty's mum]

I clicked on appliance to see what kind she’s having and nothing came up.
We are in QLD so not sure if it’s different in each state but we never had to pay for any dental or surgery, I hope it’s not too expensive for you.

Michael only ever needed plate expansions a braces x 4 starting in first grade.
We gave him pain stop before he had them inserted and pain killer for a few day’s
Hope someone else can help and has had the same thing

[FourAngelKisses]

Link was broken, sorry. All fixed now.

I'll get her some painstop before she has it done....thanks.

[FourAngelKisses]

Anyone else??? Though I'm not holding out too much hope as not many people here have older kids..............

[matty's mum]

Still not working

Is it a plate with an expander ? Michael had a few of these it would stay uncomfortable for a few days and each time we went back to have it opened up more.
Wish I could see the photo
Oh I hope someone else comes along soon.
Have you contacted Cleft Pals they could put you in contact with a family that has been through the same that your facing.

[FourAngelKisses]

gggrrrr....it was working yesterday, but it is fixed again now.

It is an expander thingy without a plate, but I guess it would be pretty similar to one with a plate.

I haven't tried Cleft Pals, will have a look later and see if I can find anything there. Thanks again!!!

[matty's mum]

Try this site it's pretty good.
http://www.cleft.org/forum/index.php?sid=d3a92439b22b1182dfa789b65f4f9278

[FourAngelKisses]

Oh cool, thanks!! Is it Australian? I tried an American one once and they ignored every question I had over 6yrs. :banghead:

[the_queen]

There is a CleftPals in Queensland I think, well there was 5 years ago when Vallerie was born. There is a very small CleftPals group here in SA, but I didn't approach them.

The palate expansion, is that the same or a different op from the gum bone graft? Vallerie will probably have the bone graft into her gum in a year or so, after her baby teeth come out. And the orthdontist said she'd have to have a plate - but no mention of this device. It looks painful and scary :( Poor Brooke :hugs: I'm guessing that mine will have to have the same thing - although Vallerie's palate wasn't cleft, just her lip. But Brooke's palate wasn't cleft either, was it?

Hi Matty's Mum :wave: My Vallerie had a bilateril cleft lip. She's had the lip repair at 3 months (and then a re-repair at 11 months because they mucked up the first one :mad: they put her gum back in upside down and her teeth started growing out of her nose!!!) and then a scar and nostril floor revision, a year ago.


The dentist said she will probably not have her eye teeth (is that the word?) The teeth next to her top middle two teeth. So she'll probably have to have falsies.

Jeanette, a hypothetical question: if you couldn't afford the device, they wouldn't deny Brooke having it, would they? I mean, they'd give it to you and maybe let you pay them off over time? Because this is not an elective thing, the poor kid needs it. Surely they wouldn't say "oh nup, if you can't pay, she doesn't get it". I can't imagine them saying that.

[matty's mum]

Ok seen it yes looks very much the same as the one Michael had but with out the plastic bits.
I don’t understand the paying for it bit? We were given a card and number and were told Michael had free dentist including all work until he turned 21. Surly that’s Australia wide I would talk to the dentist if you need to more to QLD lol.

Have you ladies seen my other post and our web page if not this is it there are photo’s of Michaels before and after I haven’t sorted them and the bone graft ones are there. Oh yes and Michael said his face wasn’t really sore just his hip. Oh our kids are tough.

[FourAngelKisses]

I don’t understand the paying for it bit? We were given a card and number and were told Michael had free dentist including all work until he turned 21. Surly that’s Australia wide I would talk to the dentist if you need to more to QLD lol.

We were given the same card, but we were told it only covered 75 or 85% of all costs until she was 21. So I am really confused right now. Maybe it's only in NSW where they still ask you to cough up a bit??

The orthodontist is in Sydney and only comes out this way once a month, but next time he is here I might call and ask. Though his receptionists seem to know nothing about the card for cleft patients, so I doubt they will know anything about the costs involved either..........

Queen, Brookes palate wasn't cleft either, just very high and narrow. There has been small mention of a bone graft by both her orthodontist and plastic surgeon. She next sees her PS next year I think (my memopry stinks, thankfully I have all the details online somewhere, lol) so I'll be asking about that then.