Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi. I just finally got my first elastic / rubberband. I'm hoping this means I'm nearing the end of my treatment.

So, my question is, how long after you got your first elastic / rubberband, did your orthodontic treatment end (or is predicted to end)?

It depends on how much movement is needed. I think my ortho told me that with 24/7 wearing you can expect about 1mm a month. Mine was about that time fram as I was in elastics for a 4.5mm Class II for 6 months.

It is usually done at the latter part of treatment, but not always. Some get elastics right from the start. What are your elastics being used for?

Hi Linda, I was reading about your elastics. I was braced at the end of November and have had elastics since about the fifth week. I have a class II, but I think that at this point, they are using them to bring my center line over. Lucky for you that you seem to be at the end of treatment with yours.

Just echoing what has already been said. While for some people elastics do come towards the end of treatment, for some of us, they have been around for the entire thing.

I got braced in March of 2005, got elastics in April of 2005 and now it's February 2007, I'm soon to get the braces off and I STILL have elastics. I've had them the entire time, in varying configurations and strengths. It was just what was required for my particular situation.

I hope that in your case, it's the end though. I can see the end up ahead, and it looks sweet!

Just to echo what the others have said....

I got my elastics 6 months ago and hope to be finished May/June this year.

I almost escaped elastics. I am really close to the end (next couple months if all goes well). At my last adjustment, last week, I got elastics for the first time. They are to close the spaces between my upper back teeth and lower. There is a picture on my blog: http://nikkiekoala.efx2.com/ of the gaps to be closed. I have the same gap on the other side but is much less and is now gone since getting elastics. Since taking those pictures those spaces are nearly gone! I go back March 8th, at that time I will be given a debanding date. Yahooooo!

I got class 2 elastics 3 months after braces, had them for 3 months, then my ortho removed them when he put new wires on upper and lower teeth, but I know I'll be getting them again at some point.
So I second what others have said: it's different for everybody.

I had my braces on for 12 months before I got elastics . I was told I was on the "home stretch" when I got them . I wore the elastics for about 6-8 weeks (can't remember) and then when I went back in after that time he said my braces were ready to come off. I get my braces off in 12 days (not that I'm counting or anything ) so I will of been in braces for 15 months.

Hope that helps.

~serendipity~