Braces straighten teeth and improve bite alignment. While brackets and wires perform much of the alignment, orthodontic elastics, also known as rubber bands, are crucial for refining the bite. These bands apply specific forces that braces alone cannot fully accomplish, guiding teeth and jaws into their correct relationship for a healthy smile.
The Role of Orthodontic Elastics
Orthodontic elastics apply controlled, continuous force between the upper and lower jaws. This force corrects various bite discrepancies, known as malocclusions, including overbites (upper front teeth extend too far over lower teeth), underbites (lower teeth protrude past upper teeth), crossbites (some upper teeth bite inside lower teeth), and open bites (a gap between upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed).
Elastics work alongside the braces’ wires and brackets to facilitate more complex tooth movements that wires alone cannot achieve. They connect to small hooks on selected brackets, spanning from the upper jaw to the lower jaw, or sometimes within a single arch. The tension created by the elastics encourages the teeth and jaws to move into their prescribed positions, helping coordinate the movement between upper and lower teeth, ensuring they fit together properly.
Orthodontists prescribe various patterns for elastic wear, each designed to address specific bite issues. Class II elastics typically run from the upper arch to the lower arch to correct overbites by moving upper teeth backward and lower teeth forward. Conversely, Class III elastics are used for underbites, connecting from the lower arch to the upper arch to move lower teeth backward and upper teeth forward. Other patterns include vertical elastics to close gaps or improve tooth contact, and crossbite elastics to correct discrepancies across the arches.
Applying and Managing Elastics
Orthodontic elastics are made from medical-grade latex or non-latex materials and come in various sizes and strengths, selected by the orthodontist. Patients are instructed on how to place and remove these elastics themselves by attaching them to tiny hooks on specific brackets. A mirror can assist with accurate placement, and some patients find plastic hooks helpful for maneuvering the bands.
Elastics must be changed regularly, often multiple times a day, as they lose elasticity and force over time. Orthodontists recommend changing them at least two to three times daily, frequently after meals and before bedtime, to maintain consistent pressure. These inter-arch elastics differ from the small elastic ligatures (O-ties) that wrap around individual brackets to hold the archwire in place; ligatures are changed by the orthodontist at adjustment appointments. Patients are provided with an ample supply of elastics to ensure they can maintain their prescribed wear schedule.
Ensuring Treatment Success with Elastics
Consistent and diligent wear of orthodontic elastics is crucial for achieving desired treatment outcomes and avoiding delays. Orthodontists recommend wearing elastics for approximately 22 to 24 hours a day, removing them only for eating and brushing teeth. Inconsistent wear can prolong treatment duration and lead to less effective results, as teeth may revert to their original positions or experience unintended movements.
Initial discomfort or soreness is common when beginning elastic wear, as the added pressure encourages tooth movement. This discomfort typically subsides within a few days as the mouth adjusts. To manage soreness, over-the-counter pain relievers can be used, along with consuming soft foods and rinsing with warm salt water. Patients should contact their orthodontist if an elastic breaks frequently, if a bracket hook breaks, or if discomfort persists beyond a few days.