Question to all the elastic wearers

[Jillianleab]

I have an appointment with my ortho on the 11th, so I'll ask this when I go in, but I wanted to see what everyone here had to say.

I've been in elastics for a few months, and they have done wonders for me. I'm wondering if I will have them for the remainder of my treatment, or once they've done their job, am I set free? So to everyone who has elastics, or has had elastics, what is/was the plan? I have probably another 10-12 months left and I REALLY don't want to have to put up with these things for that long. I hate the way they look when I talk; they are in triangles and it make me look like I have huge gobs of spit or fangs or something! So someone, please tell me there's a chance I won't have to wear them until the end!!!

Thanks!

[Chris]

Sometimes you get different configurations throughtout treatment.
I have had pauses where I wasn't wearing any elastics then I got a new configuration. I'm "sentenced" now until the braces come off as there is not much left to do than to fine tune my bite and only elastics can do that. Hang in there. At least you know they work!

I know what you mean about how they look when you talk.
I've had people stare in my mouth when I smile probably thinking
"does she know she has spaghetti noodles caught in her mouth"?

[jcdamon3]

I had the triangles too. I had them at the end of my treatment though so I can't tell you if you will need to keep them. I had them for two months and they did their work. Now the braces are coming off

[lionfish]

I've had elastics for 4 months, including the "gob of spit" formation you have, jilleanleab. The plan is for them to close my bite and they've done a wonderful job so far. I think I'm stuck with the triangle formation for the time being, but hope that the box may go to nights only from tomorrow when I have my next adjustment. It was mentioned at my last adjustment and it's not something I'd forget! As to what happens elastics wise during the remainder of treatment (plus minus 8 months to go, fingers crossed) - I have no idea.

As for the appearance of them, yeah I know they can look a bit daft to the unknowing viewer, but I just don't worry about it anymore.

[Chris]

. I think also that elastics are not used until you're in a pretty stiff rectangular wire.

Not always the case. My ortho put on a lighter wire on top recently because of two teeth that had been aching for many months. The aching went away within a few days. But I have been in elastics and the arch is moving even with the lighter wire. Perhaps he will change the wire next time since my teeth settled down, either way, the elastics are on, and its working.

[Jillianleab]

Hmm... sounds like another case of "everyone is different"! I'm just keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I won't have to wear them much longer because my overjet is totally gone, and my bite has closed except for a tiny tiny tiny amount on one side. And actually, the tooth below it is rotated, so it might be in the right place, but you can't tell because of the wonky tooth below it... I have two teeth that are still a little twisted on my lowers, and I think the elastics are preventing them from moving to their proper places. I have a powerchain, which has helped a little, but since one of the triangle points is attached to the twisty teeth, I think it is pulling it in the other direction. If that is the case, maybe I will get a break from the elastics until those teeth get in their proper places. Or, I suppose I could end up with a different configuration, I didn't even think about that. Guess I will find out on the 11th!

Thanks everyone!

[NotBob1]

It is totally a case of everyone is different. I ended up with elastics almost right away and am tapering off of them now. I may be in for more later....I just don't know. I think I had a pretty bad one considering it was to correct a midline issue. It went right from the topo right to the bottom left. I had to get used to people staring at my mouth until they realized I had braces! There is no hiding that one!

[JumpTheDitch]

I've only had mine since last adjustment, jillianleab, so I'm not exactly an expert. Mine are for helping my upper molars move forward to help close extraction gaps.
Upper #7's to lower canines; nice and easy and fairly unobtrusive.

My ortho did say when I got them that he couldn't say how long I would have them for, it would be a case of assessing at each adjustment whether I would need them for the next month or so or not. So far the extraction gap on one side has closed quite a bit (finally!) but the other side stubbornly has refused to move much .

I believe I also get to look forward to them for aligning my midline @ some point as well.

Short answer : even my ortho didn't know!

Good luck !

[[KR]Cube]

Wow, am I glad I found this forum! And I'm so darn glad to have read that having elastics put on usually means that you're nearing your time with fixed braces
I'm having elastics put on tomorrow, and I'm kinda worried... do they hurt? I'm sure they'll be a bit uncomfortable with the all pulling/tugging they do, is it just like getting your wires tightened? I think I'm more nervous about this than anything!
Cube~

[Jillianleab]

[KR], elastics do not always mean you are at the end of treatment, a few people on here have had them since day 1. I'm still probably 8-12 months from being done, I don't consider that the end!

As far as the pain goes, it will depend on the strength and configuration. I have heavy elastics in a triangle formation, and for the first few days they made my jaw pretty sore. I'd say a wire change is worse because it puts pressure on all of your teeth, whereas the elastics only on a few. You'll be fine, don't worry!

[SDFD TSchott]

SDFD TSchott sits staring blatantly at computer screen pondering if elastics is in his future.

SDFD TSchott

[SDFD TSchott]

Give me elastics, but PLEASE don't give me a headgear!!!! So sorry Headgear Joe!

lol that is exactly what I'm saying, give me elastics but don't give me headgear!

I work in an enviroment that will not allow me the use of headgear while on duty i.e. *FIREFIGHTING*

SDFD TSchott

[SDFD TSchott]

Did you read Travdude's post? Yikes!

What is a head gear for? I read on the site that in adults it is for closing the gaps of extracted teeth. Are there any other occasions? I had my extractions long ago before my first go round with braces. Maybe I am safe.

You might have to have a custom fire helmet made for your headgear Tim!

What site did you read that from?

SDFD TSchott

[SDFD TSchott]

http://www.archwired.com/headgear.htm

Now I will ask for the ortho to explain to me what the rest of my treatment phase will be cause I'm not woundernig what will be done. I just read the short portion about where you got your information.

"Headgear is also used in adults, but for a different reason. A typical scenario is a case where some teeth are extracted, and front teeth are being retracted (pulled backward). When extraction spaces are being closed, the teeth behind the extraction space slide forward and the teeth in front of the space slide backward. In some situations, to maintain the bite, the orthodontist will not want the back teeth to come forward. The headgear serves to hold them back (maintain anchorage). Orthodontists will want those patients to wear the headgear as much as they can. Realistically for most adults this might only be 8-10 hours per day, but the more the better; even 24 hours would be acceptable."

SDFD TSchott

[kimberleena]

But I feel like i've been there for MONTHS. Been in braces for almost 2.5 years, I can't wait for elastics, since I know that is going to be the last phase!!