Arch Widening Device (TPA)

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#1 Post by **Rebecca S** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:43 am

I am a 40 years old mum of 2 children and was delighed to come across archwired.com recently. What a fantastic site ! I got braces on my lower teeth seven weeks ago. I also got an arch widening device (TPA) on my upper teeth.

I am coping really well with the lower braces. However the upper device is causing me great discomfort. I have the two brackets constantly covered in wax and by the evening time daily speaking is difficult and I have sores right at the back of my tongue. I need to have this device for 11 more weeks before my upper braces are fitted.

I have two questions

Has anybody else experienced discomfort with a trans palatal arch widening device and if so how did you cope ?
My Ortho has suggested that if I really cant handle it he could try another device, has anybody had another type of device fitted ?

I never thought it would be so uncomfortable and am not normally the type of person who gives up easily. My 11 year old daughter will be getting braces soon and I am trying to keep positive for her sake but its hard.

#2 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:35 am

I'm not sure if you could switch to this, but I had a Quad Helix http://www.excelorthodontics.com/images ... ce-236.jpg for 4-6 months at the beginning of my treatment. Like everything else, there was discomfort at first, but after getting used to it---it really wasn't too bad. The most annoying part was that bits of food would get stuck in the loops and the only way to get them out was with a toothbrush. I was supposed to get a TPA after my quad helix was removed but ended up not needing it.

#3 Post by **drrick** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:08 am

the TPA is actually a pretty streamlined expander. You will have to get used to anything the docs put in. Hang in there, you should get pretty used to it before too long.

#4 Post by **Dani1983** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:20 pm

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" spots if a sore appeared
-My ortho offered a prescription rinse to ease the soreness but by that time the pain had subsided.

My TPA was removed 4 weeks ago b/c it had become slightly embedded in the roof of my mouth. I dealt with that for a week before I asked my ortho if it was normal...I wouldn't recommend it (waiting that is).

#5 Post by mg » Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:12 pm

My TPA was on for 11 months and my experience was like Dani1983. The reason for my TPA was to stabilize my very back molars during the process of correcting my crossbite. It became embedded, I experienced sore spots occasionally and the salt water rinses help considerably. And, yes, food gets hung up around the wire so I avoided stringy foods like spinach unless cut up finely.

Hang in there, but do talk to your OD. I also never discussed it with any of the many kids around me for fear of scaring them away from the brace process!

Good luck! I know how you feel.
Mary

#6 Post by **I love my teeth** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:16 pm

ugh, I am getting my TPA in about 3 weeks, he first made it for me when my braces went on.....but they made it wrong--and the bite was off, so he said he'd remake it when I needed it, its been 4 months, I thought he forgot, hehehe........no such luck!! I need it to stablilize my back molars while pulling my front teeth back and closing down all the spaces........he originally said 6months from the beginning of treatment, since I am getting it after 5months, I don't know how long I'll need it.........but the 10min I had it in when they were fitting it were very unpleasant, I am not looking forward to getting it back

#7 Post by mg » Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:24 pm

Oops. I don't mean to frighten anyone. It DOES get better. The first day is the worst then you get used to it - even the minor discomfort. Really it's not terrible; more annoying than anything else. If I handled it for 11 months, anyone can!

Mary

#8 Post by **sarahintx** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:08 pm

I don't have a TPA but I do have a RPE (rapid palatal expander) and it absolutely drives me crazy. I've had it since day one of my braces and I'm not sure when it is coming out. Although, I can say, I'm finally starting to get used to it. My tongue isn't sore anymore and my speech is slowly getting better. The best thing I found to help was warm salt water rinses. Good luck!

#9 Post by **Rebecca S** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:03 am

mg wrote:My TPA was on for 11 months and my experience was like Dani1983. The reason for my TPA was to stabilize my very back molars during the process of correcting my crossbite. It became embedded, I experienced sore spots occasionally and the salt water rinses help considerably. And, yes, food gets hung up around the wire so I avoided stringy foods like spinach unless cut up finely.

Hang in there, but do talk to your OD. I also never discussed it with any of the many kids around me for fear of scaring them away from the brace process!

Good luck! I know how you feel.
Mary

Thanks Mary
I am thrilled with all the replies. I havent tried salt water rinsing but will do now. The embedded problem sounds scary.

#10 Post by **Rebecca S** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:07 am

sarahintx wrote:I don't have a TPA but I do have a RPE (rapid palatal expander) and it absolutely drives me crazy. I've had it since day one of my braces and I'm not sure when it is coming out. Although, I can say, I'm finally starting to get used to it. My tongue isn't sore anymore and my speech is slowly getting better. The best thing I found to help was warm salt water rinses. Good luck!

Thanks Sara
Your blog is interesting to read
It was great to get so many helpful replies

#11 Post by **Rebecca S** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:08 am

I love my teeth wrote:ugh, I am getting my TPA in about 3 weeks, he first made it for me when my braces went on.....but they made it wrong--and the bite was off, so he said he'd remake it when I needed it, its been 4 months, I thought he forgot, hehehe........no such luck!! I need it to stablilize my back molars while pulling my front teeth back and closing down all the spaces........he originally said 6months from the beginning of treatment, since I am getting it after 5months, I don't know how long I'll need it.........but the 10min I had it in when they were fitting it were very unpleasant, I am not looking forward to getting it back

Good Luck to you all we all have to keep thinking is what lovely teeth we will have when done

#12 Post by **I love my teeth** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:09 pm

Rebecca-
You are right, it will be worth it in the end, I'll drop you a line after I get it on Oct 20 (I think).....Not sure how the poor speech thing is going to work, with being a hockey mom to 2, piano, karate and swim lessons, plus helping out in school classrooms, ect. should be interesting anyway!! I guess I should look on the + side, if I have it through the holidays, likely I won't regain any of the 10pounds I have lost since getting braced

#13 Post by **chemicalfan** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:02 am

Speech will be...an adventure. Well, much like the rest of the braces experience, it'll be unusual at first, and take getting used to. Although it's easier said than done, the best way to get used to it, is to act like nothing is different. Ok, there will be some words that you just can't say (or, in doing so, will soak whoever you're talking to in saliva

). Chin up, as they say, and just go about business as if nothing is different. Oh, and if the wire digs into your mouth, mention at your adjustment, and the ortho should be able to bend it such that it won't dig in. It's kind of inevitable, as your teeth move, the position of the wire will be different - think of it as progress, no gain without pain! (and I'm sure we're all familiar with that one!)

#14 Post by **mwic1985** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:14 pm

I have a TPA and it's been no trouble whatsoever.

OK, to begin with it was odd as the plastic cover had a gap where food would get stuck into - but after a few weeks it fell into shape (or my mouth changed shape) as my orthodontist predicted, and now that's not a problem.

I had the usual problems with the brackets poking into my gums, I didn't use wax, I just put up with it for a week or two. I had a thicker wire put on yesterday, so I can feel it rubbing against my top lip now again.

Sorry to hear of your discomfort. But those of you who are getting one, be assured it's not always bad.

#15 Post by **mwic1985** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:15 pm

I might add that I was wearing a removable brace for 6 months prior to the TPA, and that WAS horrible, so maybe for me, getting rid of that made the TPA less bad.