Welcome to the group Sylvia -

It sounds like you are about to have SARPE surgery, Surgically
Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion.

About one kid in 25 that gets braces will need a palatal expander.
They are more lucky than adults because their palate hasn't fused
together yet. After a maximum age of about 19 the palate begins to
fuse together. The two halves of palate fuse together at what is
called the suture line. When that happens an expander alone will not
expand your palate. The surgery will separate your palate at the
suture line and allow the expander to work it's magic.

There are a few different types of expanders but you will probably
get a rapid palatal expander. It has a screw that you will turn
probably every day. Slowly you will see your two fron teeth separate
as the expansion progresses. After the expansion is completed you
will probably wear the expander for several more weeks while bone
grows in the gap that the surgery and expander created.

Look in the photos section in the "Expanders" album. I've posted
some photos of rapid palatal expanders.

Please remain a member here but let me recommend another group that
will give you more information about the surgery. It's called
"orgnathic surgery support" and will explain the procedure better and
you can read comments from patients that have already had the
procedure. When you join go to the messages part of the group and
type SARPE in the search box. It will take you to several postings
dealing with the surgery.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthognathicsurgerysupport/?
yguid=227791415

Best of luck for all of your procedures and remember... SMILE !

Jack



--- In adultswithbraces@yahoogroups.com, "Sylvia" <veevee_38@...>
wrote:
>
> Iam 38 years old and this will be my first time with braces. I
have
> been diagnosed with TMJ. I have been wearing a bite splint for 10
> months now. I had skin graphing done 3 weeks ago. (did not like
that)
> In 3 days I get my spacers. One week later I will be getting my
> brackets on the lower teeth. I will need 2 teeth pulled on the
bottom
> and 2 on the top. In a few weeks I will be getting a palatal
expander
> put in and shortly after that I will have the palatal widening
> surgery. Then 8 months later another palate widening surgery plus
jaw
> surgery to correct my alignment. Does anyone know about the palate
> widening surgery and what I should expect?
>