Metal Mouth Message Board

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?

The tpa was not really that big of a deal.....I had one with a nance button for 3 months, then just the tpa alone for about 4-5months after that. Just another phase of treatment that you get used to.

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 have a TPA and an LLA It took a bit to get used to not being able to touch the roof of my my mouth and talking with a HUGE lisp but now I don't even realize they are there. I've had mine in for over 2 months now.

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 and provide anchorage.

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 jaw/tongue.

My lisp disappeared within a week or two! It just takes your tongue a little bit of time to get used to it. Before long you won't even notice it anymore!

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