Haven't worn elastics for a week

[farmboy]

For the past week, I've been laid up with a nasty bout of the flu I got for Christmas, enduring a raging fever and pounding headaches.

Before my illness, for seven months now, I've worn anterior box elastics to help close a significant open bite (without much progress so far, despite diligent wear on my part). Because the elastics only added to the pain from the headaches, I haven't worn them much during the time I've been sick.

My question to any of you who might know: How much of a setback could this be for my treatment?

Thanks very much.

[djspeece]

It's hard to say but I wouldn't worry about not using elastics for only a week. I am not sure what the pay-back period is for non-compliance -- i.e., how much catch-up time is needed but i suspect it is probably a 1:1 sort of thing. Not that it is really comparable, but my former trumpet teacher told me that it took 3 days to get my chops back in shape for every day I didn't practice. However that was more about muscle strength than anything. Best of luck to you.