Why do Elastics have animals/animal names on the bags?

[007Jaws]

What?! I'm so jealous by this thread. My elastics come in a bag with green writing & the word "medium" on it. They have my ortho's name on there, but definitely no animal names. How boring. Does anyone have colored elastics? Mine are just clear. I wish I could coordinate colored elastics to my colored ligs.

[metalliKa]

Hahaha Some of the comments are hilarious! I'm not sure if I will be getting elastics because I don't have any hooks on my brackets? And my ortho hasn't mentioned if I needed them. However, in the event that I do need elastics, I hope to get the ones with names of different countries so when BF texts me asking , "Where are you?" I'd say, "I'm in Thailand. Or Switzerland. Or Greece. Or Fiji."

[Tyrantblade]

Well im unsure about the other brands, but if you have Ormco elastics you can look up thr catalog, download it and find put how your elastics compare to other, for example im in Zebras which are not the smallest (though still pretty small when you hold them) and they are apparently one of the heavy (I think meaning the force they exert) elastics with extra heavy ones and then others categorized a little different where "light" is started heavy compared to the other elastics

Its a great informative catalog to check out if you are in elastics from Ormco

[007Jaws]

Ok, I looked it up! Seems I would be a gorilla.

[Amanda88]

I'm currently wearing "Mountain Gorillas"....when the ortho introduced the elastics to me he said, "Don't worry, they're not made of Gorillas"....hardy har har! We'll see what next adjustment brings!

[djspeece]

You guys must be higher up on the food chain than me. To my great shame, my elastics are named after a fruit. Watermelon. Yep. Watermelon. What marketing genius thought this was a good idea?
As I have said before, and I'll say it again, I think elastics need more realistic names.
- "Mr. Snappy" -- flies off the hook when you try to put them on and stings some particularly sensitive area
- "Elastic Birth Control" -- because you feel that no one will want anything to do with you when you wear them
- "Hide and Seek" -- Flies off a hook and disappears
- "Yawners" -- Likes to break when you yawn, reminding you to install a new set and making a noise that causes passersby to turn their heads

And so forth. Yeah, I have issues.

[EWUgal15]

Along with a weird name for the elastics, the bag should also tell you what size they are and how much force they exert. For example, my elastics are named Bill. They are 3/16" elastics, medium force (4 oz). You can do some digging to track down the manufacturer of your elastics and see a chart that has all the different kinds they make...Elastics can range from light to heavy and come in all different kinds of sizes. What you get depends on what kind of movements are needed and what is best for your treatment plan.

And yes, it's a little weird asking my orthodontist/techs for a bag of Bills. Especially when you work with someone named Bill....

[oldfart]

I think I had Bills.. green colored writing? My new Ortho (I moved) uses animals.. Impalas.. and a lot of them. Although I kinda asked for it.

Some orthos actually have colored elastics. (not just ligatures). Those always look funky.

[EWUgal15]

I think I had Bills.. green colored writing? My new Ortho (I moved) uses animals.. Impalas.. and a lot of them. Although I kinda asked for it.

YES! Green colored writing! From 3M Unitek.

[oldfart]

I've found that regardless of the name, they are all equally hard to put back in after enjoying a meal without them in.

[jaime]

My first set were an adventure series according to the bag. I had Parachuting. Yup, wearing elastics is about as much fun as parachuting.

I now have Elliot and Bummer. I thought the Bummer was pretty good since they are small, heavy elastics.

Agreeing with djspeece that they should have a line of elastics named for adults instead of kids! My suggestions:
-PITA. Enough said.
-7th Circle of Hell.
-Gum Snapper

[oldfart]

Hahaha Some of the comments are hilarious! I'm not sure if I will be getting elastics because I don't have any hooks on my brackets? And my ortho hasn't mentioned if I needed them. However, in the event that I do need elastics, I hope to get the ones with names of different countries so when BF texts me asking , "Where are you?" I'd say, "I'm in Thailand. Or Switzerland. Or Greece. Or Fiji."

Hooks can be added easily.

[stephcsun]

Am I the only one with just... colors? I have greens and reds... kinda sounds like street drugs, haha! I wish mine were animals!

That's funny! Mine are animals ill trade you for colors

[NeilH]

Mine have the very catchy name of 'Red 4.8mm 3.5oz'. I'm not sure what the animal equivalent would be but something that rhymes with 'very annoying and always in the way' would be appropriate!

[jfriend33]

not always the case. Sometimes they do fruits! I have used both Pear, and Strawberry!