- Rubber bands are to be worn 24 hrs per day, except when brushing your teeth, unless stated otherwise by the orthodontist. Failure to wear your rubber bands, as instructed, will result in treatment running longer than expected. It may also affect the finished orthodontic treatment result.
- Change your rubber bands three times a day with new rubber bands. They lose their stretch.
- If you break or lose a rubber band, replace immediately. Always carry a spare pack of rubber bands in your pocket.
- Remember to replace your supply of rubber bands at every appointment.
If you are running low or lose your rubber bands, please contact the office at 585-248-5100 and we will mail them to you. State the name of the animal on the packet to determine the size. All rubber bands have names of animals on the envelopes.
THE END RESULT, IN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PATIENT THAT FOLLOWS INSTRUCTIONS!
Different Types of Rubber Band Wear
CLASS II ELASTICS – Retracts Upper teeth and usually worn 24 hours a day, except when brushing teeth.
 |
Class II Elastic
Run elastic from upper cuspid hook to the lower 1st or 2nd molar hook, as instructed. Every case is different, the doctor will decide. |
 |
Short Class II Elastic
Run elastic from upper cuspid hook, down to the lower 1st premolar and then to the 1st molar. |
 |
Triangle Class II Elastic
Run the elastic from the upper cuspid to the lower 1st premolar and then to the lower 1st molar to form a triangle. |
CLASS III ELASTICS – Retracts lower teeth and is usually worn 24 hours a day, except when brushing teeth.
 |
Class III Elastic
Run elastic from the lower cuspid hook to the upper 1st or 2nd molar hook as instructed. Every case is different, the doctor will decide. |
 |
Short Class III Elastic
Run elastic from the lower cuspid to the upper 1st premolar and then to the upper 1st molar. |
 |
Triangle Class III Elastic
Run the elastic from the lower cuspid to the upper 1st premolar and then to the upper 1st molar to form a triangle. |
CLASS I ELASTICS – Closes space between teeth and is usually worn 24 hrs a day except when brushing teeth.
 |
Run elastic from upper 1st or 2nd molar hook to the upper cuspid hook. This elastic can be worn on lower arch also. |
BOX ELASTICS – Closes openbite and is worn 24 hours a day, except when eating or brushing teeth.
 |
The elastic is attached to four teeth. Two on the top and two on the bottom to form a box. They are most commonly used in molar areas. Every case is different, the doctor will decide. |
V ELASTICS – Extrudes cuspid tooth and is usually worn 24 hours a day, except when eating or brushing teeth.
 |
The elastic is attached from the hook on the lower 1st premolar, up to hook on upper cuspid and then down to the hook on lower cuspid. |
ANTERIOR TRIANGLE ELASTIC – Closes anterior openbite and is usually worn 24 hours a day, except when eating or brushing teeth.
 |
The elastic is attached from the hook on the lower 1st premolar, up to hook on upper cuspid and then down to the hook on lower cuspid to form a triangle. |
CROSS ELASTICS – Corrects molar crossbite and is worn 24 hours a day, except when eating.
 |
The elastic is worn from the outside of the lower molar hook to the inside on the upper molar button. It may also run outside of upper molar to inside of the lower molar, the doctor will decide. |
ANTERIOR CROSS ELASTIC – Lines up the centers of the upper and lower front teeth. It is worn 24 hours a day except for eating and brushing teeth. ** The elastic may be tucked in above the anterior teeth during the day.
 |
The elastic is worn from the upper cuspid hook to the lower cuspid hook. The directions will vary depending on problem. Every case is different and the doctor will decide. |
Back to top |
