Rubber bands or "elastics" are very important because they help align the upper teeth with the lower teeth. The forces produced from wearing elastics help correct various conditions like when your upper teeth stick out in front of your lower teeth (overbite) or vise versa. Improving the way your teeth bite together will make your smile more attractive and also make it easier to chew foods.

Elastics should always be worn as directed. Wearing rubber bands one day and not the next day will "wiggle" the teeth and prevent normal movement. At first some discomfort might be present but that will disappear within a few days.

You might think that rubber bands aren't "cool" or the "in thing", but, let's face it, biting into a ham sandwich and leaving the meat behind isn't cool either! Patient cooperation is absolutely necessary if you want results that are, well, I guess you could say, out of this world!!!!

Headgear is an orthodontic device used to move your teeth in relation to the bones of your face. It's usually worn to either move the upper teeth backwards or to stabilize them in their present position. Changing the postion of your upper teeth will make your smile more attractive and also make it easier to chew foods.

Headgear should always be worn as directed. Usually this is 10 hours per day at night and while sleeping. It is very important to wear your headgear every night for good results. It's sort of like pushing a ball up a big hill, if you stop pushing and let go the ball will roll back down the hill. The same is true for wearing headgear. If you stop wearing it for a day or two you are allowing your teeth to move back into their original postion. This will make treatment time even longer.

Just like with the elastics, patient cooperation is absolutely necessary if you want results that are out of this world!!!!