Metal Mouth Message Board

hello everyone!

when did you get rubber bands?
Ive had my braces for... 6 months? hmm probably less than that but close to it - and my ortho has not mentioned rubber bands to me at least once? - my teeth are not bad in the last 6 months they all pretty much straightened out and look nice but i guess my bite is still off - regardless

how long did it take for you to get rubber bands?

does everyone need rubber bands? (elastics)

I got elastics 8 months after getting braces.

I didn't have to start wearing elastics until after I had my extraction. (I was over 2 years in by then). And I have been bad with my elastics, so heed my warning, if they tell you to wear them, do it, if not it will take longer to get the braces off!
Did they put the brackets with hooks on your teeth? if yes, probably will get elastics, if no, then probably won't.

I don't have hooks on my brackets. The ortho attaches hooks to my archwires instead.

Not sure if everyone needs them. I started wearing elastics the same day I got my braces. One I wear 24 hrs/day "Impala" and the other I wear 12 hrs/day called "Bear."

Magster...WOW!! Has it really already been 5+ months??!! I remember your first posts on here when you got your braces!! Congrats!!

As for me, I just got my elastics last week and I've had the uppers on for over a year and the lowers about as long as you've had yours on. And, I'm not even SURE if she was going to give them to me, except that I asked the technician about it and she went and talked to the ortho, then when the ortho came in to see me, she said they'd do steel wires and elastics. However, I'm only wearing mine at night...so...??

I say the best person (as always) to ask is your ortho. (S)He may not have elastics in your treatment because you don't need to align your jaws (or the multitude of reasons one gets elastics), or, (s)he may have a reason for waiting.

Like bluegirl, I've heard of people getting elastics the same day they get their brackets put on...and others, like me, it takes a long time. I think it's really your ortho's preference, as all treatments seem to get you to the same place, it just depends on how you get there; know what I mean? Personally, I'm glad my ortho took her time with me (first uppers, then lowers, then elastics) because I was in SOOO much discomfort with the uppers at the beginning and then SOOO much pain with the lowers...I don't think I could've handled elastics on top of that!

When is your next appt so you can talk to your ortho?? And congrats again for making it this far!

I had mine put on straight away when I got braces :'( Having all in at once felt like there was a party in my mouth and I was invited (when I did not want to be there )

Magster, I got my bands at five months. If you remember, I do, we were braced around the same time. I was march 26th. Not everyone needs elastics. An open bite was created from straightening out my top teeth. So, my Ortho started me on elastice last month to help close the bite. What a difference these little suckers make! They are quite painful at times and annoying at others. It's possible you may not need them, pray you don't, at least not like mine. I have to wear them 24/7 only to be removed when eating and brushing. Good luck!

By the way how do your teeth look now five months in? I have had some major changes!

Newboysgrl777 - I hope you're still around!!!!!! you were one of the few that was going through the bs with braces at the same time.

I just wanted to share my excitement with you! I'm getting my braces off on August 19th for a total of 16 months.

Not everyone needs elastics. I know some people who never wore them when they had braces. I don't have elastics yet, but my ortho told me before I even got braced that I would have to wear them. He said he's going to straighten everything first and then work on the bite with elastics. I have no idea when that'll be.

I got a class 2 elastic on the left side at 18 months..

oh and back to this - I did not end up having to get elastics

i just got rubber bands today on my first adjustment.. also got a thicker wire

You know, I don't even remember when I first had my dance with elastics. I think about five months in. Class II for about four months. My O decided to give me a break for two months then I was back on Class II

Had midline elastics for a month

I'm now on triangle elastics (almost done!!!)

1 year