Need a Reminder to Change Aligners or Wear Elastics?
Posted on 11/10/2020
Why Do I Need to Wear My Elastics or Change My Aligners?
Your orthodontist creates the treatment plan, but your daily habits play an important role in how quickly and successfully that plan works.
At Tollgate Orthodontics, we will carefully monitor your progress, adjust your treatment as needed, and provide the guidance you need to achieve a healthy, confident smile. However, some parts of orthodontic treatment only work when you follow the instructions consistently at home.
Two of the most important examples are wearing orthodontic elastics and changing clear aligners on schedule.
Why Are Orthodontic Elastics Important?
Braces are excellent at moving individual teeth, but elastics provide additional force to help correct how your upper and lower teeth fit together.
Depending on your treatment plan, elastics may be used to correct an overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, or other types of bite misalignment. They may look small, but they perform an important job.
Elastics only work while you are wearing them. Wearing them for a few hours and then leaving them out for the rest of the day does not provide the steady pressure needed to move your teeth and jaws as planned.
Inconsistent elastic wear can cause your teeth to move more slowly or begin shifting back toward their previous positions. This may extend your treatment time and delay the day your braces can be removed.
Follow the exact schedule provided by Dr. Eves and the Tollgate Orthodontics team. Wearing more elastics than prescribed will not speed up treatment and may place too much pressure on your teeth and jaw.
Why Is Consistent Aligner Wear So Important?
Clear aligners work by applying gentle, controlled pressure to specific teeth. Each set of aligners is designed to complete a small stage of movement before you advance to the next set.
The aligners cannot move your teeth while they are sitting in their case.
Most patients are instructed to wear their aligners for approximately 20 to 22 hours each day, removing them only to eat, drink anything other than water, brush, and floss. Follow the personalized instructions provided by your orthodontic team, as wear schedules may vary.
When aligners are not worn consistently, your teeth may not move into the correct positions. The next set may feel unusually tight, may not fit properly, or may not fully seat over your teeth. This can disrupt the planned treatment sequence and may require additional appointments, replacement aligners, or refinements.
Changing to the next aligner too early can also create problems. Your teeth and supporting tissues need enough time to respond to each stage of movement. Always change your aligners according to the schedule provided by Tollgate Orthodontics.
Consistency Is More Important Than Perfection
Forgetting your elastics or leaving your aligners out longer than planned occasionally does not mean your treatment has failed. The important thing is to get back on schedule as soon as possible.
Do not double your elastics, skip ahead to another aligner, or make changes to your wear schedule without speaking with our office.
Contact Tollgate Orthodontics if:
Your elastics repeatedly break or come off
You are unsure where your elastics should be attached
You lose an aligner
An aligner is cracked or damaged
Your aligner does not fit or fully seat over your teeth
You have missed several days of wear
You are unsure whether you should move to the next set
Our team can tell you the safest way to continue without disrupting your treatment.
Make It Easier to Stay on Schedule
Building your elastics or aligners into your daily routine can make consistent wear much easier.
Try connecting them to habits you already have. Replace your elastics after meals and brushing, keep extra elastics with you, and store your aligner case somewhere easy to reach. Phone alarms, calendar reminders, and orthodontic tracking apps can also help you monitor your wear time and aligner-change schedule.
Keeping your elastics, aligners, case, and oral hygiene supplies together can be especially helpful at work, school, or while traveling.
Your Daily Effort Makes a Difference
Orthodontic treatment is a partnership between you and your orthodontic team. We provide the plan, appliances, adjustments, and professional care. Your responsibility is to follow the daily instructions that keep your treatment moving forward.
Wearing your elastics as directed and keeping your aligners in for the recommended amount of time can help your treatment stay on schedule, improve the final result, and bring you closer to the smile you have been working toward.
Have questions about your elastics, aligner wear, or treatment schedule? Contact Tollgate Orthodontics. We would rather answer a question early than allow a small issue to interfere with your progress.
Any questions about your elastics or aligners? Give us a call at 401-739-3900, and we'll be happy to help.