You may have noticed that some patients with braces wear longer rubber bands with them. After seeing them, you may have wondered what they’re for. Today, Innovative Orthodontics will explain the important role elastics play in orthodontic treatment and why they are essential for achieving your best smile, answering the common question of what purpose elastics have for braces.
What Elastics Do
First and foremost, let’s cover what exactly these little bands do for your teeth and braces. They have a few important jobs:
- Correct Overbites, Underbites, and Crossbites: Elastics can shift teeth and jaws into the desired position by connecting different brackets or hooks on the braces, all while improving the bite.
- Enhance the Efficiency of Treatment: Elastics can actually speed the orthodontic process along by applying gentle, constant pressure, which often helps reduce the time needed for braces.
- Aid in Tooth Movement: These rubber bands can also shift teeth in directions that braces alone may not be able to achieve, like pulling teeth together or adjusting them vertically.
Best Practices with Elastics
So, how do you best implement elastics as a patient? Dr. Waters and Dr. Clayton have some good tips to help you out with compliance since elastics don’t work all on their own!
1. Follow Our Instructions
- Our office will provide specific instructions on how to correctly wear your elastics. This will include how to physically wear them, as well as how often to adjust them.
2. Know the Correct Configuration
- Elastics can be placed in various positions (e.g., triangle, box, or straight line), depending on what we’re working on correcting (i.e., overbite, underbite, or crossbite). Again, it’s key to place them properly for your chosen treatment.
3. Attaching the Elastics
- Be sure to wash your hands prior to application to prevent any bacteria from getting into your mouth.
- Use a mirror and your fingers to gently stretch the elastic and attach it to the appropriate hooks or brackets as directed.
- If you find you cannot effectively attach them with your hands, you can use a tool we provide, like a small hook or tweezers.
4. Replace Elastics Regularly
- Elastics lose their flexibility over time. Ensure you replace them as instructed, which is usually two to four times a day or whenever they break.
- Always carry extra elastics with you in your travel kit if you need to replace them.
5. Wear Them Consistently
- As with so many aspects of orthodontic treatment, consistency really is key! Wear time can vary; some patients need to wear them 24/7 (apart from when eating or brushing), while others might only need to wear them at night.
6. Monitor for Any Issues
- If an elastic breaks or you run out of elastics, contact our team as soon as possible. It’s also important not to skip wearing them for long periods, as this can delay your broader treatment.
- Should your elastics cause significant discomfort beyond a short initial adjustment period, let your doctor know.
7. Avoid Eating or Chewing with Elastics
- It’s wise to remove your elastics when you’re eating to prevent them from snapping or getting caught in food. But after eating, replace the elastics with fresh ones to maintain their effectiveness.
- Chewing gum or sticky foods are notorious for pulling the elastics off, so it’s especially important to avoid those foods.
FAQs About Elastics
Finally, we’ll discuss any additional questions you might have. Innovative Orthodontics is always happy to answer questions as they arise.
Q: Can I reuse elastics?
No, since they lose their strength over time, they aren’t reusable. This is also a bad idea in terms of hygiene, since your mouth contains so much bacteria.
Q: Can I play sports or exercise with my elastics on?
Yes—you generally can participate in these sorts of activities like normal while wearing elastics. However, if you’re playing contact sports, it might be a good idea to remove them while wearing your mouthguard.
Q: Are elastics the same for everyone?
They can actually vary quite a bit. Elastics come in different sizes, thicknesses, strengths, and colors, all of which depend on what is being corrected. We’ll choose the right option since we work one-on-one to find custom solutions for you throughout treatment.
Exceptional Treatment Isn’t A Stretch!
When you start orthodontic treatment, it’s normal to be curious about all of the different components of your braces. Like we said—that’s exactly why we’re here! Our three Innovative Orthodontics offices are full of experts and conveniently located in Savannah, Rincon, and Pooler. You can also read what our patients have to say about us here!