Elastic Instructions

Today we have added elastics to your treatment to help move your teeth. It is essential that you wear them as instructed, or your teeth will not move properly.

Special Points to Remember

• The elastics provide the force that we are using to move your teeth during this stage of treatment. In order to work they have to be worn 24 hours a day - every day. The only time they should be out of your mouth is when you are brushing your teeth. If they are out for even short periods of time, the teeth will slip back to where they were and progress will be lost.
• Please try to keep the elastics in your mouth while you are eating. If you absolutely cannot eat with them in, you may take them out, but you must remember to put them back in right after you have finished eating.
• Inconsistent wear will lengthen the time that the braces will be on and inconsistent wear may even damage the roots of the teeth.
• Moving protruding front teeth back into their proper position, closing spaces and correction of bad bites often require elastics. With proper wear, you will be able to get the best possible results.
• It takes a few days to get used to wearing elastics and you may feel some discomfort or pain. Please keep wearing them as it will get better. If necessary you can take pain killers for a few days.
• If your supply is getting low, call the office immediately and tell us the size you are wearing. We will be happy to mail you out a package, or you can stop by the office to pick them up if this is more convenient for you.
• If you are having problems such as broken hooks, loose braces etc. that prevent you from using the elastics, please call us right away.
• Never change the number of elastics used from what we have shown you. Improper force levels can be damaging to your teeth. We will advise you on the correct number of elastics to use in order to get the best job done. More force will not move your teeth faster. The important thing is consistency and full time wear.