Metal Mouth Message Board

So yeah I got lazy and disappeared for a while. My avatar pic is me with my Hawleys - braces came off on October 8 which is a total of 18 months and one week in braces. My advice --- WEAR YOUR ELASTICS! They saved me 6 months of treatment and I didn't have to get TADs (see my earlier posts). Retaine...

I really miss corn on the cob. It's the only thing I haven't been able to eat. I'm opting out of attending the state fair this year for that very reason

I've had all the other "no-no" foods without trouble (tortilla chips, nuts, popcorn etc). Happy noshing!

I had a TPA for several months to stabilize my upper arch and prep for TADs (which I decided not to get). The sores are painful and it really took 4-6 weeks before they disappeared for good. A few things I tried with mixed success: -warm salt water rinses -moving my tongue to different "resting...

***I tried and tried to resize but it wouldn't work for me, sorry** Ali - I don't miss my gap at all. I didn't realize how much it had grown in the last few years. Every time I look at my before pics I'm amazed (I could almost put my pinky finger in there!). http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/...

I'm posting here to see how retention is going for those of you who may have used elastics to close an anterior open bite. I originally decided to go with TADs but if I can get the same results 6 months quicker (and cheaper) than TADs, I'm going for it. My ortho says the results will really depend o...

TADs were put on hold by the new ortho (previous ortho moved to Texas). He decided he wanted more control over the last molars and banded all four. I'm now on schedule for TADs in "several" months. He says my traditional braces treatment is progressing terrifically but that getting the TAD...

Thanks! Progress really helps take the blues away. The TPA is not being used to widen my arch (always had a big mouth hehe), it's just holding the molars in place while the other teeth move.
I've got many months to go but I hope to keep seeing good movement

Ok folks...tell me what you think. I've had the TPA for 2 weeks and I'm getting TADs (miniscrews) on 5/26 to help close the open bite. Pre braces/day one: http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/babs82483/IMG_0319.jpg http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/babs82483/IMG_0318.jpg http://i581.photo...

Milliondollar I'm really excited to see your post b/c I'm getting tads too for an open bite and I don't think there are many of us on here. Braced 3/31 and I'm scheduled for TADs on 5/26 so I'm getting a little anxious. My open bite isn't quite as wide as yours but I also have a large front gap to f...

My ortho told me that popcorn was a no-no because the shavings get caught under the metal bands and sometimes b/n the gumline and the band and it's dang near impossible to get out which equals lots of discomfort and possible cavities. I wasn't a big fan of popcorn so it's not a loss for me however I...

I have an anterior open bite and was given three options by my ortho. A mess of elastic configurations was one of them but she warned me that retention would be difficult and the results not as predictable. I decided to go with the miniscrews and am scheduled to get those on 5/26. The third (most pr...

Ortho plans and assistants do all the "dirty" work in my office as well. My brackets were placed by an ortho (not mine but one who was sub-ing for my ortho while she was out), but my first wire change, spacers, installing TPA appliance etc were all done by assistants. I thought that was od...

Ok so I had the bottom banded and braced on 3/31. Top received all but bands on the same day. I went back on 4/24 for spacers on uppers to make room for bands and TPA. Prior to 4/24 it was smooth sailing. I had no pain, was very optimistic...yada yada. I went in today for my first wire change and to...

I'm getting a TPA next week and aside from worrying about having a raw/sore tongue I'm curious to know how long other people had to deal with this device. Also, what was it being used for (molar stabilization, arch expansion)? Thanks in advance for sharing!

Glad to see TADs are working for you! I'm expecting to get a TPA next week and then TADs down the line for my open bite as well. It's a little disturbing to think of the screws coming out though. Did your ortho suggest a TPA to hold your molars in place? I was told I'm getting TADs on the outside on...