Elastics on braces - will more make the move faster?

[tsta]

Background: I have had braces on for nearly two years. A year and a half into wearing my braces (Clear brackets on top, metal on bottom) I was told I needed 4 premolar and my 4 wisdoms out (ouch btw) anyway 6 or so months later there is little progress and im really over wearing them (sorry i no im a moaner, there are ppl who have had them on for longer im sure) anywho i was told yesterday that if you put more than one elastic on that the gaps will close in quicker. Is this true? I have been wearing three elastics on today and my teeth hurt, i figure they are moving. Is this a good thing?

[Sunny]

If your ortho recommends it, then it must mean he doesn't have the strength of elastic he wants you to use next.

If someone other than your ortho recommends it ... please don't be silly enough to do something a person with no qualifications says.

Occasionally an ortho will recommend two elastics if the work that one has done is over and the next size isn't right for the gap. This is a precise science and often when we think more/faster movement is what we need, we set our treatment back, as the movement is usually not what's required.

tsta talk to your ortho about your concerns that these gaps are taking so long to close. I had one like that ... but my ortho got it to a certain place ... it took ages, but once it was there, he closed the remaining gap over night, by tying an elastic cord round the brackets on either side of the gap. What was important was to get it to that size first ... then yah ... the gap was gone!

Use wise judgement ... you want healthy gums and teeth with healthy roots ... your ortho is the only person you should listen to!

[tsta]

funny you say that my otho is the least helpful person out there. I have had disagreements with him latley. Tried to arrange a time to talk about my concerns cos I was sick of him not giving me any answers or updates during visits. Anway 20 emails later he wouldnt commit to a time. i ended up putting all my concerns via email. But he keeps giving me a diff story each time. First it was you will only have braces on for 15months then it was 2 years tops now its anywhere between another 9 or 12 months. A few months ago he told me at xmas he would tell me how much longer then when I said to him so you can tell me how much longer next visit he just laughed and said you have ages to go. he said I will have another xray in feb so will wait to see what happens there. But im going to give him 6 more months then i want them off... thoughts???

[Sunny]

tsta if you're that concerned about your ortho, make an appointment to be assessed by another ortho (or two) ... as you may be better to change than be treated by a person who's showing so little respect.

... but remember ... your ortho is still the expert ... and don't try and become the person to design your treatment when you don't understand the science of what's happening. Good luck !

[Stephanie]

they will move faster in most cases, but you can lose stability and possibly do some damage. In the case of elastics, sometimes less is more and a good thing...

I have heard from many users that that they have cheated with more than 1 rubber band though... It's understandable as I know you want them off, but I would follow the directions of your ortho.