Why do I need to wear elastics?

Posted Jan 2nd, 2025

Orthodontic elastics are used as part of orthodontic treatment to help align your teeth and jaws. They apply gentle, continuous pressure to move your teeth or adjust your bite into a more ideal position.

Here’s why elastics are important:

Correct Bite Issues

Elastics can help correct bite problems like overbites, underbites, crossbites, or open bites. By wearing elastics as directed, the force applied helps your teeth and jaws align more correctly.

Promote Jaw Movement

If your top and bottom jaws don’t align properly, elastics can help move them into a more functional position. This is often necessary for improving the overall balance and function of your bite

Speed up Treatment

Wearing elastics as instructed by your orthodontist can help speed up your treatment by guiding the teeth and jaw to the desired position more effectively

Improve Long-Term Results

Using elastics ensures that your teeth are not just straight but function well together. This helps prevent problems with your bite after the braces come off

Align Teeth in 3D

Elastics can apply forces in multiple directions (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) to address more complex issues like misalignment that can't be fixed with braces alone.

For the best results, you should wear them as prescribed by our doctors. The frequency varies for each patient. Wear may be all day or only during certain times (like at night), depending on your specific treatment plan. The more consistent you are, the better and faster the outcome.