By: Doctor Solanch Morales
Rubber bands are essential for correcting the alignment of your bite. While braces move individual teeth, elastics provide extra force to adjust the position of the upper and lower jaws. They help fix issues like overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites by guiding the teeth into their correct positions.
Orthodontic rubber bands come in various sizes, lengths, and thicknesses, all of which impact the amount of force applied to the teeth. The main differences include:
Your orthodontist will determine the best size and strength based on your specific needs.
For the best results, rubber bands should be worn at least 20–22 hours a day. This means you should wear them all the time except when eating, brushing, or flossing. Consistency is key—removing them too often can slow down your progress and extend your treatment time.
Rubber bands lose their elasticity over time, reducing their effectiveness. To maintain consistent pressure, you should change your elastics 3–4 times a day or as directed by your orthodontist. A good habit is to replace them after meals and before bed.
Orthodontic elastics are placed in different patterns depending on the correction needed. Some of the most common configurations include:
Used to correct an overjet (when the upper teeth are too far ahead of the lower teeth). These bands connect the upper canine to the lower molar, helping to move the lower jaw forward and the upper teeth back.
Designed for fixing an underbite (when the lower teeth are in front of the upper teeth). These bands attach from the lower canine to the upper molar, helping to pull the lower jaw backward and the upper jaw forward.
Used for closing open bites by connecting three teeth in a triangular formation—usually an upper canine and two lower teeth. This setup encourages the teeth to come together properly.
Wearing rubber bands as instructed is crucial to the success of your orthodontic treatment. When you put force on a tooth it starts to move a little bit. When you take the force off the tooth it will begin moving back. So, if you wear your rubber bands for just an hour and then leave them off for 3 hours, your teeth probably didn’t make any progress!
In order to get your teeth to move permanently, you must apply constant force over a long time. The longer the better! That is why wearing your rubber bands day and night (even to bed) is very important
Remember—consistency and patience will bring you closer to that perfect smile!
Dr. Solanch Morales – DMD, MBA, ABO
Board Certified Orthodontist
