Elastics.. WHAT DO THEY DO!

[KevinsJaw]

Hey guys im new, ive had my braces on for 4 months now and should be getting elastics soon. what are they used for!? my teeth arent all that straight yet, but theyre getting there. Can someone please tell me what elastics did to your teeth? Are they used to move your very back molars?

[phuongie]

Your ortho usually shows you how to put your elastics on and if you have questions, be sure to ask your ortho and remember how to put them on correctly or it won't work. My rubber bands were meant to close my open bite and I've had them for about two weeks already. My ortho showed me how to put them on and I wear them 24/7 except for eating. It sounds weird but I drink water with my elastics on, but it doesn't do anything. But it does feel like my teeth are glued shut.

[BraceFace2o1o]

Elastics can be used for different things, it really depends on your treatment plan.

I have had elastics during my treatment, first it was to move my lower right 1st and 2nd premolar and lower left 2nd premolar (they were tipping inwards towards the tongue). Then I had them to move my 2nd molar. The latest elastics I had to wear were to correct a slight overjet that was created since wearing braces, it did the trick nicely and currently I no longer need to wear them.

[Snowglobe32]

What do elastics do? They will be a pain in the bum, cause the worst pain of all and become an annoyance.

Now, the good thing: They will move your teeth quickly as long as you follow your ortho's instructions.

If you have to wear them, take OTC medicines and use a heating pad. The pain will go subside within 3- 5 days.

[bellalla]

Elastics apply a pull in directions that wires and ligs can't.

Nickel Titanium wires apply one kind of force, powerchains another, springs another, and elastics yet another, and so on and so on.

I don't entirely understand what elastics do (I should, because I should be studying for my ortho exam) but I do know that it's very important to use them as your ortho instructs you to. I never had them, but I've heard they're very annoying. Still, follow your doctor's instructions closely, it will result in spending the least amount of time in elastics as possible.

[KevinsJaw]

OH GREAT! haha more pain :(
I have an appointment next week to tighten my braces and i guess talk about elastics, we'll see.

Im going to have jaw surgery in like a year and a half or so. I have a cross bite on my right side, do you guys think the elastics will help with fixing that?

[ArchWired28]

OH GREAT! haha more pain
I have an appointment next week to tighten my braces and i guess talk about elastics, we'll see.

Im going to have jaw surgery in like a year and a half or so. I have a cross bite on my right side, do you guys think the elastics will help with fixing that?

I have a one tooth crossbite that is being fixed with archwire, but I may need to wear elastic as well. In general, this depends on your situation, if your crossbite is big enough, only surgery will fix it. A great question to your ortho or whoever is doing your care.

[klobird]

Hey Kevin--

I realize everyone's different, but I have had elastics since the first day, and they haven't caused any teeth pain that I am aware of. However, (!)---they are the biggest pain in the *ss!!!!!

They rub against my cheeks, and snap them also.(I use wax to keep it to a minimum). I have 2 of the heaviest elastics on one side (one overlapping the other, and one on the other). They helped bring my overjet in tremendously---from 10mm to 4mm so far--and now are getting my bite perfected (that's why the 2 heavy ones on one side).

I am very used to them, and haven't had the braces experience without them (I would absolutely love not having them!)
When I take them out to eat, it's like not even having braces at all....

They are just annoying as h*ll...rubbing, snapping, having to take them in and out, and in and out, and in and out.....
knowing that I MUST get quickly into the bathroom right after eating to brush and get them back in--just so, so annoying...but as far as causing tooth pain...hmmm...not really for me.....

[KevinsJaw]

Ohh ok, hah right now i really want them just so i can see more movement in my teeth! and my bite. I dont even remember the last time my bite fit together properly! So im pretty prepared for anything i have to do to fix it. I really don't want to worry about it anymore!

[TMJJill]

I know everyone has different protocols for their elastics depending on their situation.

I've been in upper braces for 3 months. About a month in, I got a bracket on my lower back molar about 1 month in. I've been using elastics in a "V" shape to help erupt my back lower molars. Next month, I get a brackets on my 6's to begin erupting them with elastics as well. When I get so my molars touch, I'll be able to get my lower braces.

By the way, I've seen some good progress with my last molars already so the elastics are doing their job.

I also have a unique situation in that I wear a set of elastics from back molar to canine to hold my lower jaw forward when I sleep. It helps keep my jaw in correct position to help with my TMJD. That makes 3 elastics on my one bracket every night.

[augustday]

Hi,
Today was my 2nd adjustment and I just got elastics to wear them at night only (for now, atleast thats what my ortho said). Anyhow, for those people who wore them at night--tonight's my 1st night, any advice? Should I take couple Ibuprofen before going to sleep?

Thanks!

[purplepetunia]

Hi,
Today was my 2nd adjustment and I just got elastics to wear them at night only (for now, atleast thats what my ortho said). Anyhow, for those people who wore them at night--tonight's my 1st night, any advice? Should I take couple Ibuprofen before going to sleep?

Thanks!

Hi sunshinesmile,

I have been wearing elastics at night only for several months now with very little pain/soreness. I would wait to see how you feel when you wake up before taking any pain reliever. You might not be sore until morning, in which case you can go ahead and take the pain reliever then. By the way, some studies have been done indicating a possibility that ibuprofen slows down tooth movement so you might want to consider taking acetaminophen instead. I started a thread about anti-inflammatories here in the Metal Mouth Forum a couple of months ago.

Good luck to you. I know everyone is different, but I hope you are encouraged to know that, at least for me, wearing elastics at night only has not been a big problem.

[augustday]

Thanks so much, Purplepetunia!
I know there are threads and I did some search but found unsatisfactory results. Do you know why we only get to wear them at night? I understand these are ortho's instructions but isn't wearing at night and then stopping during the day and again starting at night --doesn't do much compared to wearing them all day? I was told to wear them and see the next 5-6 weeks until my 3rd adjustment.

[purplepetunia]

Hi sunshinesmile (love that name!),

I don't really know the science behind wearing the elastics at night only. In another thread someone mentioned that elastics work differently at night than they do during the day due to the jaw being at rest and the pull of the elastics being more horizontal than vertical. Makes sense to me. (I'm religious about wearing my elastics every night.)

My ortho first prescribed night-only elastics, then on my next appointment switched to 24/7, then on the next appointment switched back to night-only, which I have been doing for several months now. Although I have other issues with my orthodontist, I do see improvement in my bite alignment since the elastics, so I'm comfortable with that aspect of my treatment.

p.s. Here's the link to the thread about anti-inflammatories: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=40733

How did your first night with the elastics go? Hope it wasn't too uncomfortable. Hang in there!

[augustday]

Hi purplepetunia,
Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions. I confess, I actually took 2 advil before sleeping and i was fine during the night--no pain--except my jaw felt like it was glued shut because of the elastics. And at night I got this horrible that I hadn't put the elastics on the right teeth. haha. So i'm thinking of not putting them on today and calling my ortho on Monday to double-check with him. Thanks for sending me the link on anti-inflammatories!

You must be almost done since you've been braced for 22 months? My treatment is supposed to last 20-22 months as well.