Elastics Dilemma

[Catlady]

Hi! I recently had a orthodontist appointment and I was prescribed to wear rubber bands at night only. I have triangle elastics on both sides and one in the front to fix my midline. My question is What purpose does this serve when you only wear them at night? I thought if you kept a constant force on your teeth with the elastics they will move, but I feel in this case I'm only moving them at night and they move back in their current placement in the morning/evening. I don't see much improvement. Is anyone else wearing elastics only at night? Are you seeing improvement? I've only been wearing them for about a week now. My orthodontist said I will be getting them off this summer, but I feel only wearing them at night will make the process longer and i'm ready to get these off!
Thanks for your comments!

~CatLady

[peterataylor]

I'd be interested to hear other's thoughts on this too. I was told to wear my elastics "as much as possible". So on day one, I wore them constantly, which was easy because I was out of the office and hidden away at home. Then over the weekend, we had friends round so I only wore them at night. Now I'm back at work and trying to wear them whilst sat at my desk. However, at any given moment, I might have to whip them out to have a conversation with someone (speaking with them in isn't really working for me just yet). Plus, they look awful and I'm already very self-conscious about having braces.

Peter

[bmueller]

I too am curious. I was told if I don't wear them at least 22 hours a day, they do nothing.

[isthistaken]

Good question and same here. Told to wear them 12 hours at night, but I prefer to wear them in the daytime.

[plugnickel69]

I've worn my triangle elastics every day for over 22 hours a day for the 9 weeks since I got them and can't believe the positive change in my bite. I think the amount of wear time depends upon the problem being fixed and don't quite believe that if you don't wear them 24/7 that there will be no progress--just that it will be a lot slower.

[2XRound]

No dilemma for my othho: 22 hours a day or I will be treating you for a very long time.

[TMJJill]

I've had multiple elastic configurations over the last 19 months and all of them have been nighttime only. They have done their job.

[zdenka]

I think it depends on the treatment. I would trust the ortho. Mine are on all day and I haven't seen any difference in 2 months. Must be one of those things that makes sense to them but not so much to us. Who knows maybe they are very tight and wearing them more than night time would hurt you.

[duherro]

Uhh its worse for me , I was initially told to wear them at night by Ortho A, and then I wasnt wearing them haha, so next checkup he just told me to wear them this time , so I wanted my braces off and started to wear them at night time as originally instructed. It was annoying because I would wake up and my elastics weren't on :(.

So next checkup, ortho B (A was sick) checked my teeth and didn't like my progress, told me to wear it more and I told him that I was instructed to wear them at night, but he just said wear it more and try it on during the day too. So now I am wearing it during the day mostly as well. I just hope that my next checkup that it was correct to wear them during the day :). I am going to be so mad if I get an overcorrrection...

[isthistaken]

Seems almost primitive but still in use by even the most advanced practices.

[xanidu2012]

Was told to wear mine all the time and only remove to eat, brush, floss. I don't want to go past my "sentence" time My ortho even made elastics fun by giving me 5/16th size elastics in colors (they're called Moose)