Knowledge Base
Elastics/Rubber Bands
Teeth have never failed to move when elastics are worn consistently and as directed.Wear them as we have shown you both night and day. This means meal time too, if at all possible. Once you learn this you won't slip into the bad habit of leaving them off after meals. If you wear your elastics one day and leave them off the next, your teeth can't tell which way they are moving, so they will just wiggle back and forth.
Change to a new elastic every 12 to 24 hours, whichever we have told you. Remember, rubber bands get tired, too!
If a hook breaks or gets bent out of shape, don't wait for your appointment! Notify us right away so you don't lose any of your important progress.
We will tell you in which direction to hook your elastics.
Here's the easiest way to replace your elastics: open your mouth about halfway and reach in to hook the elastics the way we show you. If instructed to wear back to front, hook the back tooth first and stretch forward to the bracket or hook in the front of the mouth.