Heavy Elastics vs. Medium

[hidakat]

I have been on 1/4" medium elastics running from back lower right to front upper right, and front upper left to front bottom left. (My midline is a bit out of whack) I went to the otho's the other day to pick up extra elastics since I'd run out, and accidentally wound up grabbing the 1/4" heavy ones instead. When I called my ortho he said this was fine as long as I wasn't experiencing pain, but I am finding I have some jaw discomfort now and my jaw feels tired. If the heavier elastics speed things along I will happily deal with it, but if there is risk of damaging my teeth then obviously I don't want to go there. Anybody have any knowledge or experience in this arena?

[chichi]

Since your ortho said the heavy ones are fine, give it a few days. If you're still experiencing significant discomfort, go back and pick up the correct elastics.

[hidakat]

Update: met with my ortho today and he explained to me that he usually only uses heavy elastics on male patients--apparently their jaws tend to be stronger. He compared it to lifting weights, where a stronger weight can be useful, but only if you build up to it. If you start on the heavy weights too soon, you may strain a muscle.

After I mentioned the jaw discomfort we settled on an intermittent plan: I'll wear the heavy ones until I feel my jaw getting tired and then I'll move back to the mediums for a day or two to give it a rest. He said every other day would be fine too.

So, we'll see how it goes!

[roxie2519]

The heavy elastics tend to snap out more often. I had such a hard time putting/keeping them on. My dentist finally gave me thinner ones.

[hidakat]

That's so weird, I found the opposite. My mediums snap like crazy and I feel like the heavy ones could survive a truck passing through them! Maybe it's a brand difference.

[roxie2519]

I feel that they were too large for my mouth