orthotropics

Why I Decided to Try AGGA (plus some lingering concerns)

Alyssa Luck · Nov 12, 2019 · 10 Comments

You guys. I wrote this post in MAY, and somehow managed to not hit publish. So here it is, almost six months later, which means I’m six months into my AGGA treatment, which means I’m way overdue for more updates. Given my track record, I’d say you should expect another update in April, but I will do my absolute best to exceed expectations.

Ever since I halted my last palate expansion attempt due to bone loss concerns, I’ve been exploring other options and deciding on the best course of action. Now, almost a full year later, I’ve started treatment with a new dentist (Dr. Ed Suh) doing AGGA and CAB.

It wasn’t an easy decision-making process, and it’s not a perfect solution by any means (not that a perfect solution exists), so I wanted to share all of the factors I’ve taken into consideration, and why I ultimately decided that AGGA is the best route for me.

I’ll also share the remaining concerns that I have about the treatment, and how I’m dealing with them (aside from sporadic mild panicking. Only slightly joking.).

Everything You Need to Know about AGGA (Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance)

Alyssa Luck · Mar 28, 2019 · 18 Comments

Note 2/5/2021: I badly need to update this page (especially since my website transition resulted in all the pictures being lost…ugh), but much of this information should still be useful/relevant!

Update March 8, 2023: I still need to update this page more thoroughly, but wanted to share this CBS article about several lawsuits against the AGGA creators/distributors. My thoughts about the appliance remain roughly the same as what I wrote below several years ago and have said in my YouTube videos (linked on this page), key points being:

There are currently no good treatment options for adults with significant malocclusion, TMJ, or airway issues due to poorly developed facial bones
The treatment options that exist include surgery; “invasive” palate expansion such as MSE; and “noninvasive” palate expansion such as AGGA, ALF, DNA, and similar appliances; none are safe and effective and affordable enough for me to consider them a “good” treatment option
AGGA is one of the only appliances that specifically targets the need for forward expansion; most other appliances target primarily lateral expansion
AGGA is not a regulated or proven appliance, and most practitioners that use it make claims that are not supported by evidence (specifically, that it remodels the jaw through nerve stimulus and does not push teeth)
Many people (myself included) have gone through the AGGA process and experienced no ill effects, and notable benefits
Many people have gone through the AGGA process and experienced catastrophic damage to their teeth
There are significant financial incentives at play in the continued promulgation of AGGA within the network of teaching institutes, consulting institutes, practitioners, and labs

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Original post:

Hey folks! This is my first post in what will hopefully be a series about the various orthodontic appliances used for non-surgical palate expansion and facial growth in adults.

You should all know by now that I’m not a dentist or orthodontist, so unfortunately, I won’t have any groundbreaking contributions of knowledge. But at least I can put all the info in one place, right? I’ve linked all of my sources throughout this post, so you can go link-diving if you want to read other people’s words and learn more.

Table of Contents

What is AGGA?

Who came up with AGGA?

What is involved in AGGA treatment, and how long does it take?

How does AGGA work?

Is it legit?

Are there any dangers or downsides to AGGA?

How much does AGGA cost?

Where do practitioners learn how to use AGGA?

How can I find a practitioner who uses AGGA?

Before and Afters

Where can I learn more about AGGA?

[Read more…]

Everything You Need to Know About Mewing

Alyssa Luck · Mar 5, 2019 · Leave a Comment

(But not actually everything you need to know, because many others on the internet have talked about mewing EXTENSIVELY. I hope to flesh this page out with more resources eventually, but for now, this very basic primer was last updated 4/8/2019.

What is mewing?

“Mewing” is a term coined by followers of Mike Mew (and his father, John Mew) to describe all of the actions/exercises involved in developing and maintaining proper tongue (and to a lesser extent, lip/cheek/jaw) posture. In addition to keeping the tongue in its rightful place on the roof of the mouth, this also includes things like proper chewing/swallowing technique and various tongue exercises.

(That’s the broader definition. Alternately, “mewing” can sometimes simply refer to maintaining proper tongue posture on the roof of the mouth.)

Mewing has started to pick up steam as an underground/fringe movement, and is notably popular among incel communities. (If you aren’t familiar with the term “incel,” I’ll let urban dictionary educate you.)

Palate Expansion Update: Concerning CBCT Scan Results

Alyssa Luck · Sep 6, 2018 · 38 Comments

Update 2/5/2021: After much soul-searching, I ultimately decided to continue my expansion journey with AGGA. You can find all my updates regarding that process linked from this page!

I am long overdue for a progress update! Last time I posted, I shared some progress pics, and was about to get a CBCT scan to reassure myself and my orthodontist that we weren’t pushing my teeth out of the bone.

Well…unfortunately, the CBCT scan was not reassuring. In fact, it was pretty concerning. At some point I’ll get around to posting screenshots from the scan, but for now, I’ll just share a snippet from the radiology report:

In layman’s terms? Although the CBCT scan isn’t precise enough to tell us whether the roots of my teeth are fully poking through the bone, it can tell us that the bone outside of the roots on my upper teeth is extremely thin. And that’s not good.

Side note: Did you see what they said about my airway? Reduced airway space is one of the main risks of retractive orthodontics, and another reason why I need my maxilla expanded and pulled forward!

Anyway. Needless, to say, the CBCT results were pretty soul-crushing. I mean, I had spent a lot of time and money covering my bases and making sure I was doing this the right way, and I felt so confident that I was on the right track. Not only did this scan derail me completely, it also showed me that once again, all of the “experts” I had put my trust in might have been wrong.

[Read more…]

5-Month Palate Expansion Progress Photos

Alyssa Luck · Jun 21, 2018 · 9 Comments

Hey friends! It’s been five months since I began my journey with my first palate expander, and two months since I started with the DNA/Meridian appliance. I had them take some progress photos at my appointment this week, so I figured I’d share with the internet!

Full disclosure: I think the fact that my hair was wet and my eyes were kinda starting to close in the “before” photos makes the progress photos of my face look a bit more dramatic than they otherwise would. But you can definitely still see that there’s been progress! Also, these are definitely the most hideous photos of me to grace the internet thus far. Hooray. [Read more…] about 5-Month Palate Expansion Progress Photos

The DNA Appliance Has Arrived! (APE Diary #6)

Alyssa Luck · May 3, 2018 · 7 Comments

My DNA appliance has arrived! It’s technically a “meridian” appliance, but it’s essentially the same as a DNA – I think only certified practitioners are allowed to use the name-brand DNA appliance, so we’re using a knock-off. (Edit 10/18/18: To be clear, I was taking Dr. Lockhart’s word that the meridian is functionally the same as a DNA. There could certainly be differences that I am not aware of!)

It’s definitely far bulkier than my old expander, and required a lot more adjustment to fit to my mouth. The acrylic plates that cover the biting surface of my molars (occlusal plates) had to be shaved down to balance my bite (similar to a nightguard adjustment), which is always difficult in my case since my bite is so uneven (when my right molars are touching, I still have several millimeters of space between my left molars).

But it’s all adjusted now, and I’ve been wearing it for about two weeks. The verdict so far: [Read more…] about The DNA Appliance Has Arrived! (APE Diary #6)

APE Diary #5: My Consult with Dr. Brad Lockhart

Alyssa Luck · Mar 27, 2018 · 6 Comments

Note: We are now in realtime. I repeat, we have attained realtime.

March 27th, 2018

In case you didn’t read my previous post, here’s what’s up. Yesterday I flew across the entire country, drove an hour in a rental car in California traffic, and will repeat that entire process tomorrow, with the sole purpose of talking to a dentist for an hour today.

Luckily, it was the best dentist appointment ever, and Dr. Lockhart is fantastic, so it was worth the trip!

(Edit 9/6/18: My opinion of Dr. Lockhart has somewhat changed. Read the update here.)

To be honest though, this isn’t even unusual behavior for me. At least 75% of my life consists of doing things that people find very strange in order to fix obscure problems with my body that almost always sound made-up.

Okay, recap of the appointment. [Read more…] about APE Diary #5: My Consult with Dr. Brad Lockhart