how to put rubber bands on braces

How to Put Rubber Bands On Braces

By  Dr. Tyler Coles – Premier Orthodontics

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If yous've ever had braces, or if y'all have braces right now, then there'south a hazard that your orthodontist has asked you to wear rubber bands. Rubber bands with braces may seem difficult at beginning, but with a few tips and tricks from this article, you'll know how to put safety bands on braces, by yourself, in no time.

What Are Safety Bands For Braces?

Orthodontic safety bands, likewise known as elastics, are small-scale rubberband bands that hook onto your braces from the top teeth downward to the bottom teeth.

Exercise note that orthodontic rubber bands are different from the minor colored ties (besides known equally o-ties or ligatures) put on braces to agree the archwire in identify.

orthodontic o-ties
O-Ties or Orthodontic Ligatures

Orthodontic rubber bands look similar to safety bands that you might run into at a local office supply shop—but they are designed specifically for commitment of the proper force levels to your teeth. In other words, your boilerplate rubber ring should not exist used for braces.

orthodontic rubber bands
Orthodontic Elastics

Orthodontic rubber bands are usually made of latex, but they also come in latex-free varieties for those with sensitivities.

Why Are Safe Bands For Braces Needed?

Your braces past themselves practise a great job of straightening your teeth and closing spaces. But in that location are certain bite issues that can't be fixed with braces lone. This is where orthodontic rubber bands come up in.

Fixing Overbites With Safe Bands

I type of seize with teeth problem that requires safety bands is an overbite (the top teeth stick out also far).

Overbite
An Example of an Overbite

For someone who has an overbite, they would wear rubber bands that hook to the bottom teeth about the back of the oral fissure and stretch the elastic towards the front teeth on the tiptop arch.  (See the images below for a visual of what these look like)

Applying the rubber bands in this pattern helps to pull the superlative teeth back and the bottom teeth forrard, improving your bite.

Watch the video below to run across how orthodontic condom bands can set an overbite.

Fixing Underbites With Rubber Bands

Another type of bite problem that requires condom bands is an underbite (the lesser teeth stick out too far).

Underbite
An Example of an Underbite

For someone who has an underbite, they would vesture safe bands that hook to the top teeth nearly the back of the oral cavity and stretch the elastic towards the front teeth on the bottom arch.  (Run across the images below for a visual of what these look like)

Applying the prophylactic bands in this pattern helps to pull the height teeth forrard and the bottom teeth back.

Watch the video below to run into how orthodontic rubber bands can fix an underbite.

Fixing Open up Bites With Rubber Bands

Another type of bite problem that requires rubber bands is an open bite (the top teeth don't touch the bottom teeth)  Open up bites can happen on the front side or back of their mouth.

Lateral Open Bite
An Example of an Open up Seize with teeth on the Side

For someone who has an open up bite, they would article of clothing safety bands that hook to the summit teeth and stretch the elastics towards the bottom teeth, usually direct below.  Usually the safety band is pulled down in a triangle pattern. (Encounter the images below for a visual of what these look like)

Applying the rubber bands in this design helps to pull the top teeth forward and the bottom teeth back.

Watch the video below to run into how triangle elastics can help set up an open seize with teeth.

Do I Really Demand to Wear Safety Bands On My Braces?

You can think of it this way. If you've already put the time and resource into getting braces, how much more than of a hassle will it really be to temporarily add on safety bands? In the long run, anyone with a bite problem is truly grateful that they chose to put safety bands on their braces.

As you lot can see from the examples above, orthodontic rubber bands tin can be worn in different patterns and directions to prepare different types of bite problems. Information technology'southward important to follow the specific instructions from your orthodontist regarding how to wear  your safety bands on your braces.

 Make sure to enquire your orthodontist to echo rubber ring directions if you lot're non getting the hang of it correct abroad. With time, putting rubber bands on your braces will be second nature.

How Often Exercise I Need to Wear and Change My Orthodontic Prophylactic Bands?

For nigh patients, wearing your rubber bands all day and all nighttime is required.  The two chief exceptions are when you lot consume or when y'all castor your teeth.

Everytime y'all take your rubber bands out, make certain to replace them with a fresh fix. If you keep using the same safety bands for too long, you'll observe them start to lose their strength or they can suspension.  You can usually wait to wear 4-v sets of rubber bands each day.

Putting Rubber Bands on Braces

Think information technology's okay to skip rubber bands for a day – or even but an afternoon? Then listen to this!

When you put force on a tooth it starts to move a little bit.  When you take the force off the tooth it will brainstorm moving dorsum. So, if you vesture your rubber bands for but an 60 minutes and and then leave them off for 3 hours, your teeth probably didn't brand any progress !

In order to get your teeth to motion permanently, yous must apply constant  force over a long fourth dimension. The longer the meliorate! That is why wearing your rubber bands mean solar day and night (even to bed) is very important.

In some instances, we may recommend patients vesture their rubber bands only at night time.  This usually means that we like the position your teeth are in and want to brand sure they stay correct in that location..

In whatsoever case, always follow the instructions of your orthodontist regarding how often to wear your orthodontic safety bands; if you've been told to wearable them full-time,  it's vitally important that you do so.

How to Put Rubber Bands on Braces: Tips to Try

At first, condom bands may feel awkward to put on your braces, simply with practice you lot'll exist a pro!

Scout our video below for tips and tricks on how to put on safe bands.

Using your fingers to guide the bands into place tends to exist the easiest method. To do this, stand up in front of the mirror and so you can meet your teeth – and then concord the safe band securely between your thumb and arrow finger. Claw the condom band on the hook of the braces on the pinnacle teeth and pull the rubber ring to the hook on the bottom teeth.

For those with long nails or that have trouble pinching their rubber bands with their fingers, you tin as well use a plastic hook that can aid with placing safety bands.

plastic hook for orthodontic elastics

Near of the time your orthodontist has these hooks on hand and will gladly give them to you.  If needed though, you tin can also find them on Amazon here.

With these plastic hooks, y'all simply place the rubber band on the hook and guide the rubber ring around the hook of your subclass. Finally, pull the safe band, using the plastic hook, onto the hook of the bracket on the opposite arch.

Using a plastic hook to place rubber bands on braces

A few more tips for  placing rubber bands on braces are:

  1. Bite down and keep your teeth together while placing your rubber bands. This will make it easier to get the band stretched.
  2. Your prophylactic bands will come up in a bag, but we recommend getting a 2nd pocketbook as well. Go along i at home and one at schoolhouse or in your backpack. That manner you always have one on hand after lunchtime.
  3. If you lot run out of rubber bands or need more, call your orthodontist.  Don't effort to use traditional office supply rubber bands – even every bit a temporary replacement. Orthodontists can always conform to have you end by and pick upwards a spare bag.

Recollect, any, y'all do, never become besides long without wearing your rubber bands!

The more than you wear your safe bands on your braces and follow the instructions of your orthodontist, the faster your bite volition get corrected, and the sooner your braces volition come off!

It's 1 of the biggest ways that you, as the patient, tin affect the quality of your handling consequence and the total amount of time that you'll spend in braces.

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