Metal Mouth Message Board

Congrats! I have a TPA and getting my tops next week!

Thanks, Jenn. I am trying to tough it out!

I've noticed my main issue is my tongue is always tense because it's not used to the TPA. I used to clench my jaw and now with this thing, I don't so I have all this tension that's making my tongue tense up. And trying to talk with a tense tongue is making me sound ridiculous. Ugh. I can't relax my ...

Two months eh? Is your lisp still there? I have a lisp and I really want to take this thing out. I am a teacher and talking like this is difficult. And my tongue is Charley horsed from trying to maneuver my new oral landscape. Ugh. I really want to see if there's another option to maintain the arch ...

I got it today. I was gaggy for a bit. It feels a bit better now. No pain, though.

I hope you're right!

I'm just wondering, are there alternatives to the TPA? I'm not too thrilled about my ortho's decisions to use it. (In addition to getting 3 premolars out.) What if I am in braces and along in treatment, can I do something to achieve the anchorage and arch shape without the TPA?

Weight loss. I have spacers and I can't chew anything crunchy or chewy. An almond was like a rock in my mouth. Tortilla chips = trying to crunch drywall. Tasty drywall though!

Oh man. I feel bad about complaining about the TPA I'm getting. But hopefully, it'll go by fast! Hang in there. It'll be okay!

Thank you. They're giving me a bit of a headache (I think they're causing it, anyway.) My teeth are okay so far, thankfully. Knock wood! They are a pain. I'm tired of them, but I'm okay. I hope the TPA doesn't drive me too crazy. But I'm very excited to have straight teeth in the near future.

I finally got my spacers today (Around my first upper molars.) They don't hurt... yet. Just feels chewy and weird, like food stuck in my teeth. I'm getting fitted for a TPA July 5th and then he's putting it in July 21st. But question[s]: Are these spacers just for the fitting? Will the space created...

It's been a while. I did my records today (mold, pics, xrays) and NO gagging! I'm so happy! My ortho told me I need palatal bar (to fix my bite, NOT to expand) and I'm really bummed. I was hoping for a metal bandless/barless experience. I'm nervous as heck about going to get the spacers, brackets, e...

Don't you wish there was a trial run? To test them out, try before you buy. They're custom made so it's impossible but I wish. I'm gathering the courage (and the moolah) to do it. Whew!

Thanks, LC. I'm just figuring out a way to pay for them. (I'm uninsured and they're going to cost $5,000! Yikes!)

I do want to follow through. He didn't mention spacers, though. So I'm guessing no? I'm getting teeth extracted and no metal bands (all bonded), so do you think I'll need them? Like I said, he didn't mention them.

Here's to new smiles!

Thank you, Tumble. I'm still nervous, but I do want to follow through. I hate my teeth and I always have. It'd be nice to smile with my mouth open instead of the smirk I use to hide them.