A transpalatal arch is an orthodontic appliance that spans the palate to help stabilize molar position.

In kid words

"A transpalatal arch is a thin metal bar that goes across the roof of your mouth to help your back teeth stay right where they are." It connects to a band around each of two back teeth, one on each side, like a little bridge. Your pediatric dentist or orthodontist is the one who would ever tell you if you need one.

The parent version

A transpalatal arch, often shortened to TPA, is a fixed orthodontic appliance made of a metal wire that spans the roof of the mouth, connecting bands cemented around the upper back molars on each side. Mainstream orthodontic sources describe it as a way to hold those molars steady, keeping them from drifting forward or sideways while other changes happen elsewhere in a child's growing mouth.

A transpalatal arch is one of several fixed appliances used for this kind of molar management, and it is not interchangeable with every other option out there. Whether one fits a specific situation, and for how long, is something your pediatric dentist or orthodontist works out with you directly.

Where you might hear it at our office

A transpalatal arch belongs to the world of orthodontics, the kind of fixed appliance that might come up when a back tooth has been lost early and the space around it needs protecting while a permanent tooth is still on its way in. Dr. Whitesides provides comprehensive orthodontic care at our Fort Myers office and can walk you through whether an appliance like this fits your child's own situation.

Any other word from a visit is worth asking about, and more of them are collected in the rest of the Kids' Dental Dictionary.

Related words

Space maintainer. Orthodontics. Molar.