What Are My Rubber Bands Even Doing?

If you ever sucked your finger or thumbs, you may have an overbite or an underbite, which means you may need braces. There are two types of rubber bands for braces. The first is called ligatures, which are the smaller rubber bands placed around your brackets. However, today we are focusing on inter-arch elastics, usually just called rubber bands. These rubber bands are made of a stretchy elastic material and are larger than ligatures. They are used to apply pressure to one’s jaw through force and tension created by the elasticity of the bands. In turn, the bands help to correct overbites and underbites. Rubber bands can be placed on teeth in a multitude of ways, but the most common is inter-arch, connecting the top of the mouth to the bottom.

How Do They Work?

Rubber bands pull the jaw forward or backwards, in order to align the top and bottom rows of teeth but can also be used to make the straightening process faster for individual teeth. When receiving rubber bands, brackets with hooks are put on either side of one’s mouth, one on the top and one on the bottom of both the left and right side. A band is then attached to the bottom and top teeth, connecting the upper and lower part of your mouth. The angle of the rubber band depends on how bad the overbite or underbite is, the bigger the problem, the wider the angle.

The Dos and Don’ts

• DO follow the directions of your orthodontist or dentist.
• DO try to wear your bands as much as possible. While you should wear your rubber bands 24 hours a day, we realize that is an unrealistic request. Many orthodontists suggest taking them out to brush your teeth, floss, and eat. Although it may be easier to eat without the bands, studies have shown that wearing them as you chew can actually shorten the process.
• DO wear your bands while you sleep.
• DO replace your rubber bands each time you take them out with new ones.
• DON’T double up on rubber bands. Although it may seem to work faster because more pressure is being applied, it may actually slow down the movement of your teeth.
• DON’T forget to wear your bands. Wearing them intermittently may actually cause more pain and soreness than wearing them all the time.

Remembering to wear your rubber bands may be a pain, but the more you do it, the less you will actually have to wear them in the long run. Rubber bands use force and tension to pressure your jaw into the correct position while speeding up the straightening process of your teeth in general. Rubber bands will help you more than they hurt you.

Permanent or Removable Retainers: What’s the Difference?

Congratulations! You have finally gotten your braces off. Now you need to learn a little bit about retainers. Retainers are used to keep your teeth in place after you get your braces off. They do not push and form your teeth like braces, but instead just acts as a binder to make sure your teeth don’t shift back to their original state. It takes almost a year for the periodontal ligaments to solidify in their new positions once the braces have been removed. Remember to always listen to what your orthodontist tells you because if you don’t wear your retainer your teeth may shift back.

Types of Retainers

There are two types of retainers available, permanent and removable. There are two types of removable retainers, Hawley retainers and Essix retainers. Removable retainers are great because you can take them out to brush your teeth or floss. However, their biggest asset is also their biggest flaw, you can lose these retainers very easily.

Hawley retainers are made of bendable wire and acrylic or plastic. There is a front wire that goes in front of your teeth while the acrylic or plastic is molded to the top of your mouth.

Pro: A great thing about these retainers for kids is that they come in a variety of colors and patterns, adding a little flair to their mouth.

Pro: They are also useful for orthodontists because they are adjustable, making it easier for your orthodontist to adjust your teeth after braces.

Pro: They are less likely to be replaced due to their more rugged construction.

Con: This retainer is very noticeable and may cause a lisp when you first start to wear it.

Essix retainers are clear plastics that are molded to your teeth like a very thin mouthguard.

Pro: They are virtually invisible on your teeth.

Pro: While Essix retainers can affect your speech, it is usually less than Hawley retainers.

Con: They are quite fragile. They can develop holes or cracks easily and are more likely to bend and ruin their shape.

There is only one type of permanent retainer, called a permanent bonded retainer. This is a permanent retainer because it never leaves your mouth. It is glued to your teeth. These retainers are usually only used on the bottom six teeth in the middle of your mouth. They can be used on your top teeth but this is rare because it can cause difficult biting.

Pro: This retainer is invisible to other people.

Pro: You cannot forget to put on your retainer and your teeth are therefore less likely to shift back.

Con: It may cut or bother your tongue and is difficult to floss.

It is very important to keep your retainers clean, no matter what kind of retainer you have. If you are unsure what type of retainer will work best for you, call your orthodontist. Many orthodontists have personal preferences on which retainer believe yields the best results. Braces are expensive, you don’t want to repeat the process, so make sure you get the right kind the first time. Call Dr. Reed for an appointment today at 412-421-8565.