Metal Mouth Message Board

I was just started on camel elastics and looks like they are considered a “heavy” elastic. What does that mean? And in comparison with light and medium elastics?

From the packs I’ve seen tension of 2.5 oz is light and 3.5 oz medium. 4.5 and above may be considered heavy.

The difference is the amount of force exerted by the elastics on your teeth.

Hi There-different elastic strengths are used for different actions. My ortho must buy generic because they're not animal coded LOL!! We have the medium (blue bag) and heavy (red bag) and latex versus non-latex. The heavy have been used on me in the class II configuration and the medium were used for the box configuration. You can check out this site that details elastic wear very well (passed on by another member).http://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/elastic-wear/

Karla

Thanks so much everyone! Happy New Year!

Here is a good article recently posted in the forum : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastics_(orthodontics). Happy New Year too!

Thanks for that link! Interestingly in that article it says “Elastic wear is recommend to be used in a rectangular wire to minimize side effects.”

Is there truth in this? Currently I am in round stainless steel wires 3 months into my class II treatment.

almost40 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 6:21 pm Thanks for that link! Interestingly in that article it says “Elastic wear is recommend to be used in a rectangular wire to minimize side effects.”

Is there truth in this? Currently I am in round stainless steel wires 3 months into my class II treatment.

I don't think it's a hard and fast rule. Depending on what your ortho is working on or trying to achieve at your current stage of treatment, sometimes these side effects can actually be beneficial and even intentional by the ortho in certain cases and different people.

Why heavy or light elastics are used?

They use the lighter elastics for box config because otherwise it would tip your teeth in with too much force. The strong elastic for class II because it pulling your upper in a backward motion and lower jaw in forward motion.
Karla

My ortho has only ever given me the Impala rubber bands. I haven’t used any others.

EllieMilo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 13, 2019 9:30 am My ortho has only ever given me the Impala rubber bands. I haven’t used any others.

Argh Impalas are hard ones. I had the same. I also had the Rams and the Buffalos. But they are perfect to cure bimax protrusion, in my experience.

I've only ever had Moose.

I loved looking at this and comparing what everyone is experiencing! http://www.ortomax.ee/wp-content/upload ... h_2016.pdf