Why do Elastics have animals/animal names on the bags?

[thunderkat]

Hahaa I needed a good laugh, thanks for finding this thread again! I am in Switzerland's for two months...the first three days were awful, but it's getting much easier now. I wonder how this elastic compares to all the others?

[trillium]

LOL at this thread. I will be getting elastics eventually- not yet though, have to have the extractions first (next monday- woohoo!!!)

[milliondollar]

I'm in Bears at night. I can just barely open my mouth!

[cjcandhm]

I started out with parrots after 12 weeks with just my braces. I had parrots for 6 months. I've now just started on penguins which are much thicker and make it difficult for me to open my mouth.
I would really like to know what each animal is specifically meant to do - does anyone know?

[starfish88]

Each elastic animal is a different size in terms of the length and thickness of the elastic but I think they can be used to correct the same problems in general, although some are meant to be used specifically with appliances. I've had quails and foxes to fix my overjet and will get bears to continue this next time. The assistants at my ortho place said to build up through the animals because the thinner elastics pull less so hurt less which is good starting out. There's an order form online for dentists to use that has all the animals on somewhere.

[CJP]

For what its worth I found that it was a lot easier to get used to elastics when I wore them full time. Since June all of my elastics have been full time or as much as possible (which I have worn full time). It usually took a day or two for the soreness to go away but when I got part time elastics last month it took a lot longer--like weeks instead of days.

Me too! I wear mine 24/7. (Tortoise). After the first days, (not hurting but eating was impossible to chew anything), I don't even notice it. I've even began brushing my teeth with them in (not on purpose, but I am so used to them that I completely forget about them) and until the toothbrush gets hung up in the elastic, I hadn't even thought about them.

I also change them 3-4 times a day - whenever I brush.

[denSMSgt]

Agreed, great timing seeing this older thread again since BILL has been kicking me in the face for the past three-ish days now. My son was asking me if I thought I would get elastics on this go-around with braces, and I wasn't sure. Powerchains on top and bottom installed the same day with Bill doing his, from what I can tell, "Class 2" dance around my mouth! Can you say pain-train?

Smile gang,

dennis

[Ashybear]

This might seem stupid, but I'm not entirely sure how elastics work (wow.. When I typed that my iPhone auto corrected it to elasticsexcruciating.... Weird!). Could somebody direct me to a thread that explains elastics? Or quickly explain? I don't have them, but knowing my luck I will probably need them. I know my ortho said my midline needs fixing, and I read that somebody got elastics to help fix their midline....

[denSMSgt]

Funny enough on round three of braces I learned something myself upon a bit of research about where my new elastics were connected.

Seems I'm Class 2, makes sense because of the overbite/jet.

There were several sites that explained, but this is the last one I found and does a pretty good job of explaining elastics, but not exactly what each class does specifically:

http://www.damonsullivansmiles.com/rubber-band-wear

If you do a web search of the different classes, there are some videos etc. that explain better.

Smile,

d

[N'awlinsRach]

This thread is a riot. I have an elephant on the left side and wear a Japan on the right. The elephants made fantastic washers for waterlines into the new 'fridge.

[marybee]

Sea lions. For the last 3 weeks. Pardon me, Stellar Sea Lions accordingly to the bag. Not fun to wear and the sea lion is not cute on the bag! LOL!

What exactly makes the sea lion "stellar"?

[denSMSgt]

So what brand are the animal name elastics?

Bill (mine) and Bummer (my son's) are 3M.

dennis

[Kipepeo]

I agree, this thread is a riot. It almost sounds like some kind of crazy poker game.

"I got 2 elephants on the right, and a bummer on the left. What you got?"

So far, I don't have a hand in this game!

[AM21]

Zebras. Just got them today. I have one on my left side and a two (doubled) on my right side.

[Tyrantblade]

Im sorry admins but I had to resurrect this thread, its odd how many different names these have

Its like each different orthodontic supply manufacturer has a different idea of how to make these things kid friendly

I was in Zebras (one on each side with slightly different but similar positions) since day once, like the very minute my braces were on and im wondering if they are on the thinner/less painful side compared to these different names on all these (animals, countries and cities, why not agree on one theme?)

I can only imagine the continuing torture I may have to endure as I go (I have a very bad open bite like / on one side and \ on the other of my top row of teeth, look at my sig for more details), ill probably be lucky if I can escape with just elastics of whatever thickness/strength and bite turbos (I hope im not with these bite turbos for longer than my next (first) adjustment, which may be hoping for too much)