When you think of orthodontic treatment, the first thing that likely comes to mind is braces – those small, metal brackets and thin wires that work to straighten your teeth. But if you or your child are currently in orthodontic treatment, you may have noticed some additional components in your mouth, namely bands and elastics.
At first glance, these small, seemingly simple pieces may not appear to play a significant role in the complex process of aligning your smile. However, orthodontic bands and elastics are actually crucial tools that your orthodontist uses to achieve precise, efficient tooth movements and bite corrections.
What Are Orthodontic Bands?
Orthodontic bands are thin, stainless steel rings that are cemented around certain teeth, typically the molars. Unlike braces brackets bonded directly to the front of the teeth, bands wrap entirely around the tooth. There are a few reasons why bands are used:
- Bands provide a stable anchor point for other orthodontic appliances like headgear, expansion appliances, or springs. The bands have small attachments welded to them where these appliances can be connected.
- For teeth with extensive dental work like crowns, it can be difficult to bond a bracket directly to the tooth surface. A band provides a way to still engage that tooth in orthodontic movement.
- Bands are sometimes used early in treatment, even before brackets are placed. The orthodontist may place separators between the molars, then fit bands a week later when there is space for them. This allows the wire to be secured at the back of the mouth.
Orthodontic bands come in different sizes to fit around different-sized molars. The orthodontist will select the correct size band, fill it with dental cement, slide it over the tooth, and push it down to the gum line. Once the cement hardens, the band is firmly attached. At the end of treatment, the orthodontist will remove the bands and clean off any remaining cement.
How Do Orthodontic Elastics Work?
Orthodontic elastics, or rubber bands, are small stretchy loops that hook onto small attachments on the braces brackets or bands. Elastics are used to apply additional force in specific directions to help move teeth into their proper positions.
There are several types of elastics used in orthodontics:
- Class II elastics – These elastics are used to correct an overbite where the upper teeth protrude significantly beyond the lower teeth. The elastics are stretched from the upper canine to the lower molar, encouraging the lower jaw to shift forward.
- Class III elastics – These are used to correct an underbite where the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth. The elastics attach from the lower canine to the upper molar to shift the lower jaw back.
- Vertical elastics – These are used to help extrude or intrude specific teeth. For example, if a tooth is not fully erupted, an elastic from that tooth down to the opposing arch can help pull it into place.
- Cross arch elastics – These stretch across the mouth from left to right. They are used to correct a midline discrepancy where the center of the upper and lower arches don’t line up.
Your orthodontist will instruct you on where to place the elastics, which configuration to use, and how often to change them (usually every 12-24 hours as they lose elasticity over time). Consistent wearing of elastics as prescribed is crucial to achieving the desired tooth movements.
Why Are Bands and Elastics Important?
Braces are highly effective at aligning teeth and correcting many bite issues. However, certain tooth movements are difficult to achieve with braces alone. This is where supplemental forces from bands and elastics become invaluable.
Bands create anchor units in the back of the mouth, allowing the orthodontist to apply forces in ways that braces alone cannot. Appliances connected to bands can widen a narrow palate, discourage thumb sucking, or shift the jaw forward or backward. Bands are also crucial for certain surgical orthodontic procedures.
Elastics exert continuous, light forces over a long period of time in very specific directions. This allows for more efficient and effective correction of overbites, underbites, crossbites, and midline misalignments. Trying to accomplish these movements with braces alone would be much slower and more challenging.
It’s important to note that bands and elastics are only effective if the patient complies with wearing them as instructed. Not wearing elastics for even one day can set treatment back by several days or even weeks. Consistent wear and following the orthodontist’s instructions are crucial for staying on track with the treatment plan.
Let’s Move Forward With Transforming Your Smile
If you’re ready to take the next step in your smile journey, Dr. Kristen, Dr. Penny, and the rest of the team are here to guide you. We’ll work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that leverages the power of bands, elastics, and braces to give you the confident, radiant smile you deserve. Don’t wait any longer to start your transformation – schedule your consultation with Sawgrass Orthodontics today, and let’s get started!
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