Why Rubber Bands Are an Important Part of Your Orthodontic Treatment

The brackets and wires of your metal braces apply pressure to your teeth, allowing them to shift into a more desirable position. Patients with certain types of orthodontic issues, such as overbite, underbite, or crossbite, also benefit from wearing elastics (rubber bands) in orthodontic treatment in Fort Myers, FL.

Understanding the Anatomy of Metal Braces

It is important to know what each part of your braces does before you can understand how rubber bands help your teeth shift.

• Brackets: These square-shaped metal pieces attach directly to your teeth with dental bonding material.
• Archwire: This thin wire attaches to the brackets on your top and bottom rows of teeth. It applies force to the brackets to help your teeth shift.
• Ligatures: This term refers to the small rubber bands attached to each individual brace that keep the archwire firmly in place.
• Interarch rubber bands: These rubber bands loop around one bracket from the top row of teeth and another from the bottom row of teeth. Dr. Richards reserves interarch rubber bands for patients with significant alignment issues. The teeth supporting the interarch rubber bands have a small hook attached to the brace.

Patients who need to wear interarch rubber bands must remove them while eating and brushing their teeth. We will provide you with a package of interarch rubber bands since you need to replace them daily. Dr. John Roberts replaces ligature rubber bands at each appointment, so removing them is unnecessary.

Although patients may not find wearing elastics (rubber bands) in orthodontic treatment in Cape Coral, FL, they can significantly impact total treatment time.

Please reach out to schedule an orthodontic consultation at your convenience.