Unveiling the benefits of wearing elastics in dentistry

United Dental Clinic
3 min readMay 17, 2024

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In the world of orthodontic treatment, the rubber band, or elastic, is a simple thing, but it is extremely important. Frequently underestimated by its simplicity, this small but mighty player is a vital element in creating smiles and improving bites.

They could be what you need to transform your smile from unattractive or sickly into something beautiful and radiant — regardless if you’re contemplating orthodontia or want more information about dental hygiene.

In this article, we will discuss how brief and effectual elastic usage in orthodontic dentist practice is.

Ranging from correcting groupings, alignments, and gaps, to facilitating better jaw movements, elastics offer a broad range of benefits that ensure you achieve the optimal orthodontic outcomes.

What are elastics?

Small, stretchy bands that are made of rubber and are applied in the mouth during orthodontic treatment to move teeth and align the bite are known as elastics or rubber bands in dentistry.

Different sizes, strengths, and types of these elastics for different orthodontic needs are available, which can be made from latex-free materials or latex.

Elastics perform their functions utilising exerting gentle and continuous forces on some teeth or bunches of them to position them correctly within a dental arch.

The braces’ or aligners’ hooks/brackets are typically used for attachment purposes while wearing them depending on a decision made by an orthodontic dental treatment.

One must use his/her rubbers all the time when undergoing therapy with them if he/she wants his/her treatment to be successful in terms of health and appearance.

Why do orthodontists recommend wearing elastics?

Correcting Midline Discrepancies

Elastics assist in aligning the midlines of dental arches (upper and lower) to ensure that the teeth are wholly centered within the jaws for balanced function and appearance.

Closing Gaps

In certain cases, elastics close the gaps or spaces by applying continuous pressure to bring them together. This could be used to make your smile more balanced and beautiful.

Addressing Overcrowding

Elastics make overcrowding less of an issue by helping teeth leave places. This creates more space within the dental arch which in turn leads to correct alignment, therefore there is no need for teeth removal.

Correcting Bite

Elastics have a soft force when applied which helps to straighten the teeth and this corrects malocclusions such as overbites, underbites, and crossbites. By so doing they move the teeth to their right positions and thus make a bite that is useful and attractive.

Improving Jaw Relationship

Elastics also assist in the functioning of the upper and lower jaws by leading them into a more harmonic position. It might be helpful for orthodontic dentists to fix problems like open bites or discrepancies between upper and lower jaw sizes.

Enhancing Treatment Efficiency

Adhering to wearing elastics as instructed by the orthodontist can facilitate tooth movement and improve the rate of progress of orthodontic treatment. Continuous wearing of elastics ensures the completion of treatment aims in a short period.

Stabilizing Treatment Results

Following the completion of the main orthodontic appliances (braces or aligners), elastics may be utilised to keep the final tooth positions stable and achieve optimal long-term treatment outcomes. They keep the bite in the right place after correction and prevent the drift of the tooth movement.

Customized Treatment Plans

Orthodontic dentists design the use of elastics to vary with each individual’s orthodontic requirements. These factors may be regulated according to the individual treatment goals of the patients and the level of severity of the orthodontic problems being corrected.

Conclusion

The benefits of wearing elastics in dentistry are clear: they fulfill a vital role in changing smiles and a great percentage of success in orthodontic treatment.

From correcting misalignments to closing spaces up to assist jaw movement, these tiny rubber pieces have a great role to play in dental health and patient satisfaction.

Implementing daily elastic wear as prescribed by a good orthodontist like Narrabeen Dentist is a crucial step in making treatment more effective and attaining the expected results.

In this path which leads to dental health, elastics act as our powerful friends, they remind us that the smallest things might make a big difference.

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United Dental Clinic
United Dental Clinic

Written by United Dental Clinic

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