Question about elastics *update and more advice needed*

[kirjax]

okay so normally I am extremely good with wearing them. I have them to fix a crossbite. So since day 1 I've been wearing them from inside molar band to outside bottom molar band. I was to wear them for 6 weeks all day....then after that just at night. The other day I had my appointment and I was so happy she said not to wear them. And I was like yay no more elastics and she's like well no just elastics in new positions *sigh*

So now I have to wear them 24/7 - to describe it w/out photo it's like a check mark in my mouth. The one elastic goes from top molar band to bottom (eye/fang) tooth ? And then the other goes from top eye tooth to the bottom eye tooth like in a straight line.

Anyways they HURT. Now I didn't expect them to be a peace of cake. And I'm aware that by not wearing them your just extending your treatment. But they are killing me. I was up all night. Pain reliever isn't helping and not only that they're chaffing the insides of my cheeks (unlike the last elastics) so by 7 a.m. I ripped all them out and sighed relief! So to get to my point. If I choose to wear them for most the day but not the whole day does anyone thing that is only going to hurt me in the end?

I am afraid not to wear them that I'll just be extending treatment but I think 18 out of 24 hours a day is sufficient enough, anyone disagree? lol

[loulou123]

My case is completely diff as im wearing elastics after surgery to prevent a relapse but i too have to have them on 24 hours a day.

At 1st i hated them SO much, and wouldve done anything to get rid off them, but my teeth have settled down and im sure yours will too.

Personally if youve been told by your ortho to wear them all the time id follow that advise (sorry realise thats not what you wanted to hear )

[tiggrr2001]

I have elastics too and this has been the worst post-adjustment pain I've yet to endure. I didn't think I would even get elastics, but here I am in my finishing wire with a box pattern on each side to bring my molars together when I bite down. I was told if I didn't wear them properly and I went in for my next appt, that I would have to sign a waiver saying I didn't "complete" treatment.

[kirjax]

^ ouch!!

yeah when I was in the office the other day they were telling a little girl that if she didn't wear her bands to fix her midline next time she'd come in she wouldn't be happy to know she's not getting her braces off. Her dad was like, "I told you!" haha!

I know I need to wear them and my teeth did settle down before so I guess I gotta give it a shot but this time is way worse then the first set of elastics! By far everything has been an ease besides this.

And I take the fronts out a lot bc I can't eat with them. So I find myself leaving them out then putting them in then back out again! One things for sure it's such a pain in the butt that I am eating way less!


a little hard to see but this is by elastic combo for the time being

[cybersiren]

Most people have to wear elastics 24/7 except when eating. It's just a part of the braces process. I have been braced for almost 18 months and have been in elastics for 15 of those months. Usually after a new adjustment when I am in pain already I will not wear my elastics for a day to give me time to adjust to the pain. After that I wear them religiously. My originaly estimate was 20-27 months but since I've been wearing my elastics like I'm supposed to, my ortho said they will probably come off at about 19 months! I'll know at my appt. tomorrow for sure. That just goes to show that wearing your elastics can make a big difference in treatment time! I say take some Ib Profuen and take comfort in the the fact that it will be over faster than you think!

[purpleteeth]

I have elastics for my crossbite and your original placement sounds similar to what I have now. I have an adjustment in 2 weeks and I am expecting a change in placement, as they told me at my last visit it looked like my top palate was expanding properly. I have gone through two strengths already with them widening my top palate, so I understand your pain!!!

I usually wear my elastics 24/7, but this last week I have been slacking and I notice a difference. I have more pain than usual, which isn't cool. I know slacking on them every once in a while won't totally screw up my treatment time, but I have had to make a conscious effort these last couple of days to just be more responsible. Part of this is in that my sleeping cycle has gotten messed up (I switched from the day shift to the night shift) and my eating cycle has gotten messed up too. I just keep on falling asleep before brushing my teeth.

The pain has gone back down since putting my elastics back in like I am supposed to!! I was told I will be wearing them the whole treatment time because of the crossbite issue, so I have just braced myself for it (bad pun, I know). After a while, the pain from the elastics goes down considerably and I find the pain to increase upon taking them out.

Aspirin has been my best pain med for braces. Ibprofin and tynelol don't take any edge off, only aspirin (and I take like 1000mgs every 4-6hrs). I take coated aspirin at a dose of 975mgs when I can't eat, but still have pain and then I take the extra-strength non-coated aspirin when I have been able to eat, but still have pain.

I wonder if my next set of elastics will look like yours??? Hehe!!

[kirjax]

well I did pretty good today. I kept them in until lunch then I gave myself like a 2 hour break. Put them back in until dinner and then now they've been out for about another 2 hours...which after I brush my teeth I'll put them back in for the night. I think the 2 hour break wont' hurt and it gives my mouth a rest. Plus having the front elastics in constantly is a pain bc it limits my ability to talk and I don't know about some of you but I got a lot of things going on in my day that require me to talk! So it's a nuisance to say the least!

[METALMOUTHPOOH]

Ok today it has been 6 months since being braced

And reading this post has me scared of getting elastics

I dont get them for 2 more adjustments but man it sounds painful

[lionfish]

And reading this post has me scared of getting elastics

I dont get them for 2 more adjustments but man it sounds painful

It's not as bad as it sounds. I wore elastics for 16 out of 21 months of treatment, in various sizes and configurations. You get used to it. And they really do work.

[4113n]

I'm missing elastics (am i crazy?) had them when i started treatment, and then started to move a tooth out into place.. during that time, including now, i haven't been wearing any. appointment in 2 days.. see if she will get me on them again =D

[purpleteeth]

^^^ You are right, they really are more comfortable WITH elastics than without. The pain the beginning is a nightmare, but the progress and movement with them makes the braces experience very *alive*. I see progress with them and I feel it too.

[jmrut22]

Well, I am in elastics 24/7 and have been for almost a YEAR!
I have 2 diff configurations though. The one during the day is the standard class II from #3 on top to #5, or 6 on the bottom (depends on if you have all the molars). When I first started wearing elastics this was by far, the worst pain of the treatment at least so far. I have had powerchains, spacers, but OMG the elastics were the worst. When I first got them I took them out a few hours at a time because the pain was unbearable. Then I might skip a day or two in the beginning because of the pain but after about a week or so things settled down and they dont even bother me now. I dont think anyone can fault you for taking a few hours break. I told me ortho and he understood.

Now at night, different story. I forget to use my 2nd configuration most of the time. I am going to have to come up with a solution for this one. It is more painful than the other one. Its like a /\ from top to bottom. I pull them out around 4-5 AM because I grind my teeth. So I feel your pain. I just do the best I can.

Good luck

[kirjax]

^ yes I've been taking small breaks here and there. But I cant eat with the one set of elastics so obviously I have to take them out a few times a day! But I pulled my elastics out about 5 a.m. They're keeping me awake which also isn't good. So I don't think a few hours here and there is going to make a difference.

Ok today it has been 6 months since being braced

And reading this post has me scared of getting elastics

I dont get them for 2 more adjustments but man it sounds painful

actually they're not. When I had them in the beginning they hurt mildly for a few days and then after it was fine and like a few said after it actually felt better with them in then out!

But this time has been far worse and I think it's one the elastics I'm using are thicker and heavier in size so they're putting more pressure on my teeth and also that I'm wearing them in more uncomfortable spots then before.

I would say that elastics have to be different for everyone as far as pain. This probably depends on the positions you need to wear them and for how long.

I woke up this morning and I couldn't even move my mouth! Gosh it still hurts....I am trying to hang in there folks but this is def. a trying time for me in braces!! I am now starting to get sores in my mouth which I haven't had since day 1 of treatment. The cheeks are cut up, because of the added force my tongue is being scraped by the cleats! *sigh* I want this 5 weeks over with! But I am assuming even then my days in elastics won't be over. I have a feeling I'll be in them til the end.

[kirjax]

oh my friend but you are wrong. I have been drinking all day and the only result I'm getting is more trips to the bathroom

I know the hydration drill!

And I've only been taking them out for about an hour at a time. I eat, drink, relax and then brush and place back in. I don't think an hour here and there is going to kill me however you may be right that it's only going to slow the pain process. But I can't eat with elastics in so they obviously have to come out for some time so I can do that. And motrin and tylenol are not really easing the pain.

So I guess at this point I am SOL (sesame out of luck)!!

[loulou123]

No it sounds really harsh, but you really do get used to them. I have to keep mine on 24/7 (tho in the beginning id have loved to take them off!)

My 1st experiance with elastics was after surgery and im banded very tightly shut, and ive been grinding/clenching my teeth but taking them offs not an option for me, which in a funny kind of ways a good thing, as i know im stuck with them!