Elastics placement question

[Marigold]

I have a new formation now and wondering what it's supposed to be correcting. Before, I had elastics running from my lower back molars to my top incisors to bring the upper teeth back (or lower teeth forward?) Now they're in a triangle shape, top incisors to lower incisors & premolar. They're right in front, so talking is a challenge. My ortho isn't always good at explaining what he's doing, and I never got a chance to ask the assistant. Any ideas what this is supposed to correct?

I really wish I understood the use of elastics. It seems I get something new at every adjustment. Are there any websites out there that explain this?

[Amanda6]

I have a new formation now and wondering what it's supposed to be correcting. Before, I had elastics running from my lower back molars to my top incisors to bring the upper teeth back (or lower teeth forward?) Now they're in a triangle shape, top incisors to lower incisors & premolar. They're right in front, so talking is a challenge. My ortho isn't always good at explaining what he's doing, and I never got a chance to ask the assistant. Any ideas what this is supposed to correct?

I really wish I understood the use of elastics. It seems I get something new at every adjustment. Are there any websites out there that explain this?

I have that same problem as you. I am wondering what my elastics are supposed to be doing, and my orthodontist hasn't really explained very well. I currently have elastics between my top canines and bottom premolars, and have to wear them 24/7 and can remove them while eating. The orthodontist said they are to 'relalign my bite', but that's all he said. I have emailed him since and said that I haven't been managing to wear them all day as I haven't found them comfortable, and I asked him what they are supposed to be doing. He just said he gave them to me for a valid reason, and that if I don't wear them in the way that I was asked to, then they won't work. But I still don't know what they are for.
I'm not sure if they are supposed to be moving teeth in some way. I am having my orthodontic treatment to help with my TMJ, so I also wasn't sure if my elastics had something to do with treating the TMJ.

[sirwired]

Marigold,

Exactly what the elastics are supposed to do is hard to figure out just by looking. Depending on the exact location of the elastics, teeth, hooks, adjacent teeth, and the current wire type, elastics can do different things. They can tip, slide, intrude, extrude, rotate, or tilt teeth.

Amanda,

You really need to buckle down and wear those things as your ortho has instructed. The pain WILL get better, and it'll probably do so faster than if you only intermittently wear them. (And of course you won't need to wear them as long if you have them in all the time.)

I suspect your ortho can't tell you over an e-mail exactly what they are doing at this time because he simply doesn't remember; a typical practice can have hundreds of patients undergoing treatment at once. He'd need to be staring at your mouth and/or chart to refresh his memory.

[Snowglobe32]

Amanda,

At my last appointment, there was a teenager that hadn't been wearing his elastics. The ortho was really irritated. He kept trying to get him to answer how often does he wear them in a 24 hour day. Finally, the kid admitted (if he was even telling the truth) that he only wears them for a few hours a week. So, my ortho instructed the assistant to take notes on what the kid said and to detail all of the new problems that had occurred because he wasn't wearing them.

I couldn't help but overhear my ortho tell the kid that he was wasting his parent's money and his time. Due to the fact of not wearing them, he would now have to have some new scans/xrays done (would cost additional $$$). He also mentioned that his treatment time would be delayed and suggested he and his parents talk with him to see if continuing treatment is a good idea since the kid isn't following orders.

Yes, elastics do hurt but the pain usually last the first few days. They then just become annoying. They have to be worn all the time in order for you teeth to get used to them. If you wear them, then stop for a long period, then start up again, it can cause severe damage. You can try a heating pad on the sore spots, it worked really well for me along with OTC medicines.

Your ortho will know if you have not been wearing your elastics. Elastics work really fast and the results are almost immediate! It is amazing what those irritating bands can do. So it is best to wear them because you may get to stop wearing them sooner.

It was explained to me that elastics take about 9 hours to start working (after inital start) and then only one hour of non-wear to start reversing the progress.

Good luck!

[jamsmak04]

Sounds like maybe to extrude some teeth to me if I am picturing it right. I have elastics to fix my overbit. For whatever reason I have no pain from them. Just some rubbing on the cheeks which has caused one sore. No pain no gain. Once this is all done it will be worth it.

[Marigold]

Sounds like maybe to extrude some teeth to me if I am picturing it right. I have elastics to fix my overbit. For whatever reason I have no pain from them. Just some rubbing on the cheeks which has caused one sore. No pain no gain. Once this is all done it will be worth it.

Thanks for the explanation. Come to think of it, the ortho did mention he wanted to bring the teeth down (or up?). I need to start listening better. So since the base of the triangle is on the bottom, does this mean the upper teeth are being pulled down? I'm still confused by why he's doing this, because my bite already feels like it's too much toward the front teeth. My molars don't touch anymore. I just have to trust the process.

[Amanda6]

Hi Snowglobe32, thanks for your reply.
The reason I find wearing elastics uncomfortable is because they put my lower jaw in such a position that the side of my right tongue is between my molar teeth and makes it sore, so it has nothing to do with pain of moving teeth that makes the bands uncomfortable. So there's no way that it will get any easier, the longer I wear them for. It's because I have been wearing a 24/7 lower splint until recently as well for my TMJ, and the splint was removed at the same time as I was given the elastics to wear.

[Sevilon]

I asked him what they are supposed to be doing. He just said he gave them to me for a valid reason, and that if I don't wear them in the way that I was asked to, then they won't work. But I still don't know what they are for.
.

That would make me really angry. You are paying the orthodontist to help you- help move your teeth, help correct your bite, and help you understand what the treatment is doing. Frankly, this ortho sounds rude and condescending.
Do elastics become a pain and bother? Sure. They are annoying. I wear them because I want a beautiful smile, not because they are fun. But if my ortho refused to explain to me why I had to wear them or what they were doing, I would leave and find a different ortho. I would not trust someone to fix my bite and smile who can't take the time to explain a rubberband.
I am sorry you are dealing with that.

[Ellebraced]

I have what I call UPSIDE DOWN triangles which I was told were to HOLD MY BITE WHERE IT IS. I had these for a short time then for a long time I had the ones to move lower jaw forward upper back. Now they say my bite is where they want it and this is to hold it and keep it there. I did have an upside down triangle on my front right side for awhile and it was to close my teeth gaps up there.

Braces are AMAZING, its crazy how elastics and wires can move things the way it does. Good luck!