Elastics

[Tstjohn]

I recently got braces and I am already wearing elastics. The right side of my mouth has significant pressure from the elastics being connected from a back molar to the front canine tooth, but the left side has no pressure at all. Is this normal? Shouldn't they both have equal pressure?!

[Beckett]

Chances are they aren't stretched quite the same distance, or the side with more pressure has more correction to make. Give it time and the other one will probably hurt. I was surprised with elastics at my first adjustment, so about 7 weeks into my treatment. (I always thought they came just at the last few months) they weren't too bad to be honest. Just more pressure. I got new ones today (second adjustment) and they bumped me from medium to heavy.

[Tstjohn]

I thought so to, but nope, elastics right from the get go :( thanks for the reply!

[Tyrantblade]

I've had elastics right from the start as well, and I still have to use them now, nearing 11 months of having braces.

They aren't bad all in all, just an extra step, what I dislike though is it can get annoying and it seems possible I might still have elastics near the end (2 years estimated treatment time).

The worst for me was putting elastics in a triangle, near the begging it felt like my canines were slowly being ripped out.

But even that got loads better after the first week or so.

[carrieann]

How do speak normally with elastics? I don't have them yet but am very curious because I know I'll have to wear them soon. How do you even laugh? It seems like they would really hinder the ability to open your mouth very wide. Do you normally get a new configuration at each wire change only?

[Wigglesmith]

Hi,

I was surprised with elastics during a repair visit!!! I've had them about three weeks now. You do get used to them but the last couple of days the pressure has increased. Talking has been an effort too as in my jaw feels tired. Sometimes you don't even notice them. When you put a new pair in they do feel tight. I was talking and laughed and the pesky thing snapped, hubby heard it across the room lol.

Good luck

[Tyrantblade]

How do speak normally with elastics? I don't have them yet but am very curious because I know I'll have to wear them soon. How do you even laugh? It seems like they would really hinder the ability to open your mouth very wide. Do you normally get a new configuration at each wire change only?

It depends on how your have to put the elastics in mostly, some are more constricting, others arent so bad.

Also stronger elastics are harder to adjust to.

How do you laugh? I havent found laughing to be harder due to elastics.

As for opening your mouth, again that depends on the way you need to wear the elastics and how strong they are.

And as for when you get new configurations, it isnt always a new configuration at every adjustment.

Ive had to wear some elastics configurations for more than one adjustment, so when you need elastics, dont be surprised if you need to use elastics in the same configuration and use the same strength elastics for possibly 5 months.