Rubber Bands for Braces

rubber_bands for braces - BracesOrInvisalign.comWhen a patient seeks the expertise of a dentist to solve his smile issues, the most common solution is often an orthodontic treatment. Orthodontics is the dental discipline that governs the diagnosis, prevention, correction and treatment of all kinds of alignment issues — the most basic of methods, of course, makes use braces. Dental Braces involves the use of brackets, archwires and rubber bands for braces. Of the three, the rubbers seem to be the most insignificant but you are absolutely mistaken because everything amazing about this treatment is brought about by the rubbers. Only when the rubbers bring the brackets and the wires together will movement be initiated. Only when the rubber bands pull the components, can a dentist bring amazing results for the patients.

Function of Rubber Bands for Braces

There are different types of rubbers that dentists use in orthodontic treatments. Each type of rubber serves a function in the treatment that both the dentist and the patient rely on.

  1. Rubber ligaties or modules. These are small round rubbers that hold the brackets to the wires. The wires are merely slotted into the holes and spaces, but the ligaties and modules keep them in place. With the help of the wires, the teeth are able to move into their proper place. Following the shape of the wire, the teeth with the brackets are moved gradually, with some manipulation by the dentist.

  2. Rubber chains. Like real chains, these rubbers are linked together. The small round rubbers are connected together and when they are used, they are placed on a row of teeth that you want to move close together. When there are spaces found in between teeth, the rubber chains may be placed to bring the teeth closer together; but they may also be placed on the teeth when you are trying to move them. Initiating movement by pulling teeth together, rubber chains are often used before the finishing stages of treatment.

  3. Rubber elastics. Rubber elastics are more like traditional rubber bands and elastics. They come in varying thickness, so dictating the type of force that they provide; and depending on where they are placed or how they are used, they serve special function. They could be placed on the upper and lower teeth to adjust the orientation of the bite. It could pull the lower or the upper arch backward, to adjust occlusion problems.

  4. Rubber separators. Another special use of rubbers in orthodontics is to separate teeth. When molar bands are to be installed, there should be enough space to allow the bands to slip onto the teeth smoothly. The teeth are naturally tightly close and so that you can put the bands in, the separators are inserted a few hours to a few days, to get them ready for the bands to be installed.

Colors and Designs of Rubber Bands

In traditional braces, bands still play a very important role in treatment. They may not be needed in self-ligating braces or in clear trays, but the whole phenomenon of moving teeth in traditional orthodontics is still very much reliant on the rubber bands so manufacturers have found ways to make the use of rubbers more interesting through colors and designs.

Today, you can find rubbers to be in every color of the rainbow, but it is also available in clear and silver. To make things more interesting, younger patients are given the opportunity to enjoy rubbers with actual designs: some looking like Hello Kitty and so forth.