40 and new to braces - also have a question...

[duff18]

I posted this on the metal mouth forum and realized (being new and ignorant) that maybe it should be here. I am 40 year old man and finally took the plunge. Here's what I posted in the other forum...

New to the forum and new to braces, actually 1 day with ceramic braces on the top. I also have a "Vertical Holding Appliance" which is just about intolerable. I'm sure most of you know what it is. It's not an expander, but a metal bar with an acrylic pad in the middle that goes between my molars and positions the acrylic pad just below my upper palate. It is designed to keep my molars from dropping and moving forward.

This appliace has given me a speech impediment and also traps every bite of food - every bite! My job requires me to make lots of presentations and be on a lot of conference calls, so this is not very convenient. Eating is also a real struggle.

While it has only been a day, I am very stressed about this thing and my Ortho was vague about how long I would need it - "a few months-at least 4, maybe a year, maybe the whole time". I am looking at 18-30 months of braces then a retainer for 6 months 24/7, and then a retainer at night for life.

There is an alternative. I can get pegs placed above both molars on the palate side and cheek side and then affix a band of some sort to hold the molar in place. It would require that these pegs be implanted in the bone above the molars. My Ortho said it is equally effective and minor oral surgery. It would then take this thing off the roof of my mouth.

I know it will get somewhat better with time, but I really cannot stand this appliance. Has anyone been presented with this decision? Has anyone had the appliace or tried the pegs and bands? I'd like to hear some feedback - thanks!