Braces and Elastics

[benavidezaly13]

Hello everyone,
So i have had my braces for 3 years now and in 2 weeks im supposed to be getting them off!! but i havent been wearing my elastics like im supposed to inorder to get a healthy bite and now im scared that i wont get my braces off in two weeks what should i do?


oh and by the way when i wear my elastics my jaw always hurts like there is so much pressure on it

[Sunny]

There's only one person who's responsible for what happens after your ortho gives an instruction, and that's the patient. So you know what you need to do, now you've just got to make yourself do it.

It can take a few days to adjust to wearing elastic and it's great that you felt pressure, as that's what elastics are for ... to create a pressure that will create movement.

Good luck getting yourself back on track!

[benavidezaly13]

There's only one person who's responsible for what happens after your ortho gives an instruction, and that's the patient. So you know what you need to do, now you've just got to make yourself do it.

It can take a few days to adjust to wearing elastic and it's great that you felt pressure, as that's what elastics are for ... to create a pressure that will create movement.

Good luck getting yourself back on track!

Yes! Thanks for your info! and i know its totally my fault i always forget!
Do you think that if i wear the elastics for two weeks straight (changing them of course) my bite will be the way the ortho wants it?
thanks again

[Zoso]

It would be impossible to speculate. But were I you, I would tell my ortho I had not been wearing the elastics as instructed - if he was planning to remove the braces, it would be with an assumption you'd let the elastics do their work over the timeframe he instructed - it's possible that your teeth might have needed longer than they will now have in order for everything to be as stable as your orthodontist is hoping.

[benavidezaly13]

It would be impossible to speculate. But were I you, I would tell my ortho I had not been wearing the elastics as instructed - if he was planning to remove the braces, it would be with an assumption you'd let the elastics do their work over the timeframe he instructed - it's possible that your teeth might have needed longer than they will now have in order for everything to be as stable as your orthodontist is hoping.

Thank you i know that i should tell the ortho i have not been wearing the elastics but i really want my braces off!
I guess now i have to live with my decsision not to wear the elastics as instructed. Yes i agree with what you say "if he was planning to remove the braces, it would be with an assumption you'd let the elastics do their work over the timeframe he instructed" but dont you think if he looked at my teeth and saw that the bite was good he would still remove them?
Thanks for your insight.

[Zoso]

I am speculating here. But if he looks and sees your teeth are where they need to be, he may assume they have been so for some time, and the elastics have been stabilising them there for some period, whereas maybe due to you not wearing them like you should, they just barely reached that point. What I am saying is, if you do not inform, then it is possible the braces may be removed prematurely, without your ortho realising it is premature.

Really, is it worth risking a greater chance of relapse just to avoid a few more weeks in braces?

[Sunny]

I agree that you need to tell your ortho that you didn't follow his instructions, but that for the past two weeks you've been wearing the elastics as instructed.

There's always a chance that your teeth/bite will be where they need to be, so your brackets can be removed. But ... if by chance they're not, it's not going to be long before they will. In the 'big picture', you're better to have your braces on for another month and have your teeth/bite where it needs to be ... than to be left wondering what could have been, if you'd done as you should have.

Good luck with the two weeks of wear being sufficient!

[benavidezaly13]

I agree that you need to tell your ortho that you didn't follow his instructions, but that for the past two weeks you've been wearing the elastics as instructed.

There's always a chance that your teeth/bite will be where they need to be, so your brackets can be removed. But ... if by chance they're not, it's not going to be long before they will. In the 'big picture', you're better to have your braces on for another month and have your teeth/bite where it needs to be ... than to be left wondering what could have been, if you'd done as you should have.

Good luck with the two weeks of wear being sufficient!

Thank you! i will be sure to tell the ortho even though i REALLY dont want to!
and i'll let you know if i get them off or not!

[benavidezaly13]

I am speculating here. But if he looks and sees your teeth are where they need to be, he may assume they have been so for some time, and the elastics have been stabilising them there for some period, whereas maybe due to you not wearing them like you should, they just barely reached that point. What I am saying is, if you do not inform, then it is possible the braces may be removed prematurely, without your ortho realising it is premature.

Really, is it worth risking a greater chance of relapse just to avoid a few more weeks in braces?

Thank you! i will be sure to tell the ortho even though i REALLY dont want to!
and i'll let you know if i get them off or not!