Palate expansion progress is going on still. It has been almost a year since I started. I am working with Dr. Gibbs from
260 Jefferson Ave
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Tel. (616) 459-1267
At first we was expanding quite aggressively since most of the changes we were doing to the upper palate. But now since we got to the point where we can’t expand the upper palate any further past the bottom palate, we have to go slow. Currently, I am doing 1/8 turn on the upper and bottom appliance every 4 days. (1 whole turn is 1 mm) When I was expanding rapidly in the beginning I was expanding 1/8 turn everyday on the upper appliance.
The reason for this is the upper palate has the suture which can be activated and begin to unlock where new bone can form quite easily, the bottom palate aka the mandible does not. If one begins expanding the bottom too quickly, the teeth begins to tip instead of actually expanding the underneath bone structure which is what you want. Because the mandible is not able to form new bone around teeth quick enough. Most orthodontist say expanding the mandible is not possible, however taking a look at some of the molds that I had to take to get my second appliance for the bottom palate since I grew out of the first one. You can clearly see that the bone underneath the teeth had expanding and remolded. Remember bone is a living tissue, not some dead calcified hard thing that you picture because you see human skull models that have rock hard bones. Remember that bone is dead, there is a big difference from the bone that is still alive in your face.
I like to picture bone as more like clay. Moldable and malleable.
when applying light pressure on the mandible, by only turning 1/8 turn every 4 days, its gently leaning on the teeth. the pressure is not aggressive enough to tilt the teeth. When the teeth moves to new, more expanding location. There is cellular communication between the cells of the mandible, the cells know that they need to destroy certain cells, and create new bone cells to continue to support the teeth in new location.
My hope is that I can continue to expand the bottom palate in this manner. and get visible changes in the size of my bottom jaw. However, I am at early stages and at new frontier, I’ve never really heard of anyone doing this besides me, and maybe one other. Time will tell so stay tuned.
On top of doing the expansion. My upper appliance has these springy attachments that tilts and push the front teeth forward, as well as this springy hook that hooks on to my canines to keep the front 6 teeth together while space is created where I had my bicuspids extracted from previous orthodontics. (without this hook on the canines, I’d have gaps all over my front teeth as the palate expands)
My appliance (Biobloc) looks like this:
Remember that it doesn’t look like much expansion has happened in the appliance, these are second set of appliance I am using since starting this thing a year ago. I grew out of both my previous appliances already.
I have self litigating braces on the bottom teeth similar to DAMON braces and we have coil springs to open up the gaps.
Here are the teeth pics.
As you can see…………. reopening extraction spaces IS possible. The world of orthodontics is truly unbelievable, before I found Dr. Gibbs. I went to 8 other orthodontists whom all told me in the consultation that what I was attempting to do was not possible. To me it is crazy to think that someone can just definitively say that something is not possible when they’ve never tried it themselves. They just learned it from an old text book or was told by somebody. or they are entering uncharted territories so instead of admitting that they are clueless in how to do this, they shrug you off and tell you some crazy lines like “if this was possible, it would of been published in all the science journals out there.” or “once you reach a certain age, this amount of change just can’t happen.” It began to dawn on me the level of ignorance I was faced with in the world of orthodontics. And all these orthodontists were all listed as Functional Orthodontists, supposedly orthos “open” to new ways of orthodontics. I can tell you most of them were clueless. But worse, most of them were telling me very matter of fact, that it can’t be done.
Well if you see the pictures above, clearly it can be done. This isn’t an issue of orthodontics I was dealing with. It was the issue of the Human EGO! I was forced to deal with. And boy was it a tiring process. I mean some of those doctors straight pissed me off, and that rage and frustration was used as motivation as well in hindsight.
It is interesting how god didn’t lead me to Dr. Gibbs right away. It took me 8 different consultation visits of heartbreaking disappointments before I found Dr. Gibbs. The key was persistence, born out of great desire which births great will power with a healthy dosage of faith. One way or another I always knew I was going to find a solution. I know there is a life lesson somewhere in all of this drama…lol
You can see the coil spring on the bottom braces where the gap is being opened.
Also the upper front teeth is tilted out for now and creating a slight open bite. This is on purpose. At later stages, different appliance and my lips will bring the roots of those teeth forward and caught up. So essentially we are moving the whole front teeth structure forward in the face.
Going through this process made me realize just how much my teeth had been pushed back from prior ortho work. And how that is really the opposite of what you’d want. As I bring the front teeth forward again, I am getting more lip support for a more fuller lip, which I love. And as you can see below with mouth closed.
New (Aug 2013) Old (Aug 2012)
the right lips are no smaller but they are scrounged in because the teeth has been so far pushed back, especially the canines to close the gaps where my bicuspids were extracted. Now as the canines are brought forward again, the lip is able to come forward as well, and lips became wider and fuller. and just a lot better in appearance. And I’m not done yet. Later on, the canines will come forward even more.
Also what I notice is that when I smile big I used to have a lot of gums show. Although it wasn’t extreme like some other people I see sometimes. Still it was there. Now as the teeth are brought forward, when I smile big no gums show. now I’m beginning to think that most gummy smiles out there may be the result of traditional orthodontic work where braces were used to push the teeth back. Or maybe some other issues where the teeth did not properly grow forward?
And the cases where extraction was done, the teeth are pulled back even further… and to think pulling teeth out if still widely accepted practice… smh….
or even regular traditional orthodontics for that matter. where braces are used, which means teeth are pulled back… we are in the dark ages still when it comes to fixing our teeth.
this is all for now. look forward to more in the near future. ttys.
-cp
Congrats on the progress! I’ve been followin you for a while and I must say that your determination is contagious. 🙂 I ended up going abroad to get ALF and braces. I only got them a couple of weeks ago but I’m keeping track of the progress I make on a blog of my own (unfortunatly it’s in Swedish).
Keep up the good work! I know that others are watching and learning from you. A golden age it is indeed. One mans’ experience can be shared in an instant.
We’re slowly gaining in numbers. I hope that changes will be made once enough people are awake.
/Andreas
Incredible results and very interesting post! Finally some pictures, I think they prove that this is all possible.
Have you or will you use some kind of appliance to bring the mandible forward? Like and orthotic splint or Gelb appliance or something? Or will it come forward (or rotate) on its own? I’m talking about the entire lower jaw, not just the teeth or the arch.
im doing this http://jawpain-tmjtreatment.com/
and self ncr http://www.breakthematrix.org/
i used to use the crane headgear but I stopped after few month because I stopped noticing changes. I think there are limits to how much the bone can respond. wearing the crane over 8 hours a day I found was maybe too much.
Hi! I can’t wait to see your progress. I was thinking of re-opening my spaces caused by teeth extraction in the Boston area. I was wondering if you have any before photos to show us.
Thanks.
Olivia
What progress! I was wondering how much all this treatment is costing you in regards to all the consultation fees, appliances, and monthly visits. Look forward learning more about your progress!
Thank you for this. I am beginning to wonder if I am going bonkers with my determination to find an orthodontist who is not wanting to tell me nothing can be done, or say that it was right to pull out 4 teeth when I was a child or to say that breaking my jaw is the only way. I feel like I am speaking to professionals who have just built a wall around the work they do and are just not open to new ways. What you are going through seems just like obvious common sense! I have been reading up on the treatment in adults with mandibular distraction and causing forward growth with minimal nad seemingly less drastic surgery but I cannot find anyone who is using it?!! Why?!! If anyone knows of an orthodontist like Dr Gibb in Europe PLEASE let me know! Thank you once again!! Insdia
Hello! I was hoping you could help me. I’m only 18 and last December had 2 premolars extracted from my upper jaw to make room for braces. Had braces put on mid February of this year and now I am planning on having braces removed because of unfavorable facial profile changes. My extraction spaces haven’t closed completely and if my teeth move back to how they were originally (although crooked) they would look a lot like the pictures you have up here. I was wondering what you thought the best move would be? To expand my palate with something like the Biobloc, DNA, Homeoblock, or ALF appliances?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, and glad to see your success!
I’d go for biobloc orthotropics first as they understand how the jaw affects the face. Then possibly look into other options if there’s no one around. Do your own research this time around and make sure you pick a doctor that you like, and agree with their philosophy.
Hi,
Really impressed with your progress and treatment!
I’ve just started treatment with Dr Hang to create space for two eye teeth at the top and 2 bicuspids in the lower. I was just wondering if you low protein, high veg diet has any effect on you treatment in the end??
Regards,
Luke
Hi Luke, I just consulted with Dr. Hang and am looking into upper (and lower!) expansion as well. I would love to hear about how expansion went for you overall, particularly with the mandible. Please be in touch!
Do you feel your front teeth are actually moving forward at the maxilla from growth, or are they primarily flaring from the root. It looks like your front teeth are angled forward somewhat but I cannot tell for sure from the photos if this is how they were before and they have moved forward or if they are angling more forward than they were to begin with. I’m hoping to actually grow my maxilla forward but one dr said I could make them flare forward but not grow the maxilla forward. I am not really buying that but I wondered what your experience has been as far as flaring versus true anterior forward expansion. Thank you!
they were purposely flared forward and then up righted later on, but I have seen before and after molds of my palate and my maxilla has definitely developed forwards, & quite noticeably so.
I too am concerned about the possibility of flaring only, but in the case of ALF and Crane. I would like to see real proof. Once you’ve suffered through many mistakes, you just want to be super cautious before making others. Why would the purposefully flare your teeth, anyway?
flaring teeth forwards only takes them closer to where they were suppose to be, which was needed in my case when my front teeth were retracted back after extractions. You need a doctor that knows how to measure the indicator line and understands the necessity of bringing the front teeth forwards.
What is the crane headgear that you mentioned and how does it work/what does it do? Thanks.
http://www.thecranencrp.com
its designed to bring the jaws forwards. but I have not seen significant results with personally, given my lifestyle I can only wear it 8 hours a day perhaps you need much longer wear. I have seen more results with oral posture, function and muscle strengthening.
What is the name of the type of orthodontal operation you went through? And did you have permanent pieces attached to your teeth (like braces) or did you just wear the retainer-like expanders? What will they end up filling into the new gaps created in your teeth? Thanks!
there’s no name really, just palate expansion and reverse extraction orthodontics. I am getting implants