Received TP Arch today

Message

#1 Post by **freakyteeth** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:06 pm

well - this is certainly different. My tongue is sore already especially from swallowing. I put a little wax on there for tonight. It is a real chore to eat too. The DA said that sometimes people get such a bloody sore from it that they have to take it out and let it heal!! Has this happened to anyone on here?

She also said they adjusted one side and then next apt they will take it out (HOW?) and adjust the other. Is this the norm?

I am trying to rinse with salt water per the great minds on this site.

#2 Post by **freakyteeth** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:32 am

I put wax on it last night. It sure hurts today though - my tongue that it.

WHO INVENTED THIS?

My ortho said it eliminates the need for headgear. Honestly, I'd rather wear headgear i think.

#3 Post by **Lisa65** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:11 pm

Honestly, it gets better. My tongue felt sore (like burned) for about a week, and then almost overnight it got better.
If you can keep wax on, then great. Also, an OTC local anaesthetic gel or cream can numb the sore patches until they toughen up.

#4 Post by **Delag** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:55 pm

Yikes - I get mine on the 17th

It will be old hat for you by then

#5 Post by **BeeHappy** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:08 pm

I am due to get a TPA on 18th Oct as part of my treatment. I am really freaked about it. I have read all the posts/threads on TPAs and it seems like a lot of people have real problems with them.

The pictures look like it is a smooth piece of wire quite that fits quite close to the palate, but it seems to cause no end of problems like cutting the tongue, gagging, speech problems. I have a really sensitive gag reflex.

Which part cuts the tongue, is it where it joins the molar clamps??

Mine are to be fitted to the first molars, will this be ok as it is further forward or are they always fitted to these teeth?

#6 Post by **wirednkc** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:37 pm

FOrgive my ignorance, but what is a TPA?

#7 Post by **freakyteeth** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:26 pm

Things are not feeling too badly now. I have a slight imprint on my tongue. If I do a lot of talking (as I am prone to do) during the day - then my tongue becomes really sore.

My molar (I only have four total, 1 each section) are really diminished in biting power however. Still sore with biting.

#8 Post by **Katie A** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:45 am

Hi freakyteeth & fellow Michigander

What part of MI are you from? I live pretty much right in the center of the lower penisula. I had a TPA put on about 2 weeks ago, and I'm just now starting to have pain-free episodes..........I wanted to just cry when it was first put on....felt like I've already been through all the jaw & mouth discomfort from 3 years of braces (still in them!), upper/lower jaw surgery + genioplasty, and now the TPA. The pain from it kept me awake many nights at first whenever I would try to swallow...even my own saliva!

I could hardly swallow anything including water at first 'cuz it hurt my tongue SO BAD!!!! I still occasionally choke on pills when I try to swallow them, and my tongue still seems to rub at the part where it's attached to my first molars, so those small sections are still very sore, but at least it's not sore all over and burny-feeling like originally. As smooth as the wire is, I thought for sure there'd be no pain, but I was very, very wrong.

Does anyone have any idea how long these things stay in? My ortho of course won't give me a definite answer, depends on how things move/shift I know. Does anyone have a range of time in which they wore theirs? Does it matter that I'm in my 40s wearing a TPA vs. a younger person like in their 20s as far as length of time wearing? I keep seeing posts from younger people who wear braces for only 1-2 years at most, and I'm going into my 3rd year, and will probably wear them for at least another 6 months.

I really like this site....it's got a lot of helpful advice. Have a good day everyone!

Katie A

#9 Post by **freakyteeth** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:08 pm

Thanks for the info everyone! Katie - I am in Ann Arbor area. I used to live in Mt. Pleasant when I went to CMU. My ortho told me that it was in for the duration. I am wondering how they do surgery with it in? I guess just work around it.

How did you surgery go? Are you glad you did it?

#10 Post by **Andantae** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:21 pm

I hesitated posting when I first read this thread, because I feel bad that some people experience such discomfort with their TPA' s, but for the sake of Bee Happy and others needing a TPA, I thought I would share with you that I have never had any trouble at all with my TPA-even initially. I barely even notice it's there.

I wonder why this is? Does a naturally higher arch keep it away from the tongue--ie anatomical differences, size of tongue etc? Size/shape/brand of the TPA? The only other thing I notice that might be a little less common with my style of tpa is that I don't have any sort of bend like a 'U' or a 'V' in the wire. It just a plain stiff wire which rests lightly on or just off my palate and exactly follows the contour of my arch. It sure would be nice to figure out if there is some reason for this and if a slight adjustment from an ortho could improve it.

I wonder if Dr. Graham could shed some light?