are expanders truly useful for severe overcrowding
Just had my 8 year old fitted into an acrylic bonded expander the other day for severe overcrowding. It's affecting how her adult teeth are (or rather, aren't due to lack of space) coming in. 2 ortho consults said that the expander would help create space for her adult teeth to come down, and with braces could help straighten them. She also has an overbite. I was also told that her bottom jaw would naturally expand as she bit down on the expander (it will push things out below..)
It is absolutely clear she will need orthodontic treatment, she is not in the "cute crooked teeth" category, but more like, teeth coming in sideways/behind others and causing bigger issues category.
I had 4 molars and all 4 wisdoms teeth removed as a preteen for braces, so being told we could avoid that with the expander was good news to me. But now I am reading that it may not be so, that expanders are over-hyped, over-prescribed, only useful for crossbite, etc. I'm thinking I made a mistake and added pointless treatment and irritation to my child who may end up with extractions anyway.
Are expanders really just a huge and useless money grab for anyone but those with a crossbite? All these orthodontists feel like factories, but to be fair, pretty much everywhere you go for a medical procedure these days has that factory feel. Back in the mid 90's, my orthodontist ran a small practice with just himself and a hygienist but the only ortho I found like that here was cash only.... not really something we could afford.