Expander

Just before Christmas we took Liv to the orthodontist to see when would be the best time to get her braces. After several x-rays and a consult with the doctor we learned that the sooner we did it the better. The reason being that she still has 13 teeth that need to grow in! 13! Her mouth is so crowded already that there is absolutely no room. So we set up an appointment for the first of the year to get started.

Last week we went in to have her molds done and to have one more look at her teeth. After she got the molds done they gave her a bunch of sticky candy (Starburst, Skittles, Laffy Taffy, etc.) that she wouldn't be able to eat while she has her expander and braces. It was really cute.

That brings us to today. Today we went back again but this time we finally got started. The first step in the process of braces for her is an expander. Which does exactly what the name implies. For the next 3 months it will spread apart all of her teeth so that the 13 that haven't grown in yet can. When those three months are done she will get her braces on. The whole process is only going to take about a year.

 Can you see her white knuckle grip on the chair? She was so nervous that it was going to hurt even though I kept telling her it wouldn't. 

No, she wasn't scared to death. ;) They are drying her teeth to cement the expander in.



All done! And it didn't even hurt!


So now every night for the next 6-8 weeks we will turn that little wheel in the middle of the expander to spread her teeth apart enough for the others to grow in. As we were leaving the doctor told her, "It's like working out. At first you hate it but when you are finished you love the results." :)