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Hello, yes the tension of the elastics can sometimes restrict opening but you should confirm that you have the right size rubber bands, ask your orthodontist about this to be sure.

Sorry to hear this but best thing would be to talk to your orthodontist about this.

It gets better after a couple days, and follow your orthodontist’s recommendation for over the counter pain med. good luck!

First, the pain usually only lasts for a few days, it will get better soon, hang in there! Second, your orthodontist may have recommended some over the counter pain medications, please ask them for what they would recommend for you.

They may not, depending on how much of the teeth are covered. Best to talk to your orthodontist about this.

Your orthodontist makes the recommendation on the type of elastic, so you can ask them about this at your next appointment. It doesn’t take a lot of force to move teeth, also, the length of time you wear the elastics has a greater effect than a stronger force. I would suggest following the orthodontists instructions on the type and time needed to wear until you can ask them about it.

ty!@@BracesGuide

One rubber band on each side still has the effect of moving all the teeth, not just the ones the rubber band is connected to. So, I would suggest you still follow your orthodontists suggestion. At your next visit, you can confirm how and why you are wearing them this way with your orthodontist.

Good question, yes they do but the space is very small and usually tends to close up within a few weeks or a couple months after braces are removed.

@@BracesGuide Thanks for your answer!

I could try and ask my patients for advice, good idea!

It depends on the situation, usually a larger, more supportive wire is used to avoid side effects but sometimes the orthodontist will use in lighter wires if needed.

It is normal for teeth to become slightly mobile during tooth movement, but you should ask your orthodontist to be sure.

It’s interesting, some patients say it’s worse than braces and others tell me they barely notice them. I think a lot has to do with how much space is already present, pain tolerance etc

mine didn't hurt at all the first day lol

You are right, unfortunately they sometimes can be the most painful part. Hopefully the final result was worth it to you once you were finished!

@@BracesGuide yes it was my teeth are so straight the don’t shift very easy like other people so I’m lucky

Hi there, when the teeth do not touch, that would be called an open bite. Sometimes the bite can be open in one area and deep in another, usually that is caused by an interference. This is something that can be evaluated by your dentist or orthodontist and they can guide you on how best to help.

Good thing is it’s only for a few days and gets better, hang in there!

I'm not exactly sure from your description, but it might be vertical settling type of elastics where they are trying to bring everything together between your upper and lower teeth? I would suggest that you ask your orthodontist to explain it again at your next visit though since I'm not exactly sure from how you described.

Hope it’s going good for you, remember it will be worth it for your amazing smile when you’re done!

You should call your orthodontist and ask them what you should do, they can help you out.

The size would be best prescribed by your orthodontist, since it will vary depending on where it is connected and each patient will have a unique situation, so the size will optimize the amount of force applied.

It may not be an issue especially if there was already space present or if you will be getting your braces in a day or two. Best thing would be to call your orthodontist and ask them, though, and they can let you know if you need to go back in to have it replaced.

Usually orthodontists recommend changing them because over time, the elastics can stretch out and become less effective. So, changing them a couple times a day can help to make sure the forces stay active. Best thing would be to ask your orthodontist how often to change for your specific situation.

I’ve heard from patients that the pain from separators can sometimes be worse than the braces, so it’s not that unusual. The good news is that it usually only last a few days and gets better. Pain medication helps too, so use the recommendation from your orthodontist to help with the pain.

I had all my wisdom teeth out and 2 other teeth extractions removed exactly one month ago and now im starting spacers/braces. I'm on day 2 of having spacers and I feel little to now pain. The recovery for wisdom teeth/extractions is killing though

Your orthodontist can usually supply these to you, just need to ask them if they have rubber bands with colors.

The records taken by each doctor may vary, depending on what they need to make a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. What I’ve shown is what many orthodontists use in most cases, but it really depends on each individual situation. You can ask your doctor about their recommendations when you discuss your treatment plan.

Yes, that's correct. There are times that the orthodontist may not fully place the wire into the slot, if for example a tooth is really far out of place, but in most cases the wire goes into the slot.

Hello, thanks for your comment. Elastics tend to just move teeth, there is no skeletal or jaw effects, just dental movement. Rubber bands can have an effect on both upper and lower teeth, however. So for example with Class 2 elastics, the upper teeth move back and lower teeth also are moved forward.

@@BracesGuide thank you. Very helpful

It gets better, hang in there!

I feel barely any soreness on day 2!

Hello! Yes sometimes when the bite is different on the left and right the rubber bands can be used to correct that, changing up the direction depending on how the bite needs to be moved. So yes follow your orthodontists instructions exactly and ask if you are unsure about how or why you are wearing them.

Thank u so much for your answer and i’ll ask her

It depends and can vary so it would be best to follow your orthodontists instructions for your situation.

Sorry to hear but it can only get better from here right? Hopefully you’ve been through the worst already!

@@BracesGuide Indeed, on my 4/5 day, feeling a lot better

It varies, but usually patients will start to wear them once they are in heavier, sturdier wires, which ends up being a few months into treatment. There are times the orthodontist may recommend elastics right away, so it really depends on the situation.

The color and regular elastics are usually made from the same materials and have the same size/strength options. Your orthodontist will be recommending the same type of elastic to place the proper force whether they are color or regular elastics. So, either will work equally well.

It varies quite a bit depending on where they are attached, the distance and the force needed. Some offices will have quite a few different sizes.

Maybe they will place these later once lower braces are placed? Best to ask your orthodontist, they should be able to explain for your situation.

Next time you see your orthodontist, have them show you where your bite should be. It's a good idea for a video, showing an "ideal" bite and alignment, thanks!

@@BracesGuide no problem, thanks I’ll ask next time I’m there :)

Yes, not that uncommon since the spacers are moving the back teeth a little.

I've noticed that some patients don't have as much constant pain, usually this happens when there is already a little space between the teeth. Hope your treatment is going well!

It might be ok but I would ask your orthodontist to make sure and find out what they would recommend.

@@BracesGuide ok thank u

Some soreness is normal when wearing rubber bands, especially when you first start wearing them. If you have a lot of pain you should talk to your orthodontist.

@@BracesGuide thanks! Its okay now, not as sore as yesterday 🤗

Hello! It depends on what kind of movement your orthodontist needs for your treatment. So, it would be best to ask your orthodontist how often you should wear the elastics, because it can be different for every person.

That’s great! Some people say they are the worst part of braces and others say they hardly notice them. Glad it was ok for you!

Unfortunately I am unable to give you advise on this specific situation. It would be best if you brought up your concerns with your orthodontist and ask them what their plan is for your treatment.

It’s unlikely to be a major problem but ideally you should follow their instructions and let them know what happened.