Much like you would find with traditional braces, Invisalign rubber bands are small circular elastics that connect to your top aligner and bottom aligner to help provide some additional force. They’re great if you have more significant bite alignment issues to help correct them like braces can.
There’s a special hook on the aligner that you connect the elastics to or there are small Invisalign buttons that are also used. These buttons known as Smartforce attachments, are affixed onto certain teeth to give the aligners a boost.
We’ll learn more about Invisalign rubber bands in just a moment but first, let’s take a look at what some of the experts of orthodontic medicine have to say.
Invisalign is increasingly popular as a way to correct many different teeth and jaw alignment issues (Kuncio, 2014).
You want to be sure to follow the exact treatment your orthodontist outlines for you when you use Invisalign (Kuncio, 2014).
Many times there will be several different guidelines that you need to follow, and you need to make sure that you understand and follow these, and that you know the pros and cons of Invisalign. This goes for doctors as well as patients (Kuncio, 2014).
How Do Rubber Bands Work with Invisalign Aligners?
Rubber bands with Invisalign help exert extra force beyond what the aligners can do to help move the teeth into their new positions and bring the jaws into better alignment. Wearing rubber bands is not mandatory, but it’s often highly recommended in certain cases when wearing Invisalign aligners. Much like with braces, they are often used with correcting overbites and underbites.
How To Put Rubber Bands On Invisalign Aligners?
To use rubber bands Invisalign, you will make sure that your Invisalign aligners are on your teeth first. Then hook the rubber band onto your upper aligner hook, then stretch it down to your lower jaw’s hook and connect it. Then repeat with the other rubber bands on Invisalign on the other side.
What Do Rubber Bands Do For Invisalign?
Because so many patients are now choosing to use Invisalign to provide their orthodontic treatment, more and more technology is being implemented to make Invisalign just as effective as metal braces. By using Invisalign with rubber bands, it makes it possible for Invisalign to treat more advanced alignment issues known as malocclusions. This includes overbites and underbites.
The rubber bands work by applying more force than the aligners alone can do. Not everyone has to wear them, but many will derive increased benefits by using Invisalign with rubber bands.
You can still remove the Invisalign trays for eating, brushing your teeth, and flossing. The Invisalign rubber bands don’t change how long you need to wear the aligners. You still need to wear them for 22 hours a day at least to be effective. Not wearing your Invisalign aligners long enough will make your treatment time longer.
Anytime you are wearing your Invisalign aligners, you will need to wear your rubber bands to help make your treatment more effective and possibly even speed it up. Then remove the rubber bands when you remove the trays to brush and floss your teeth.
It’s also important that you don’t play with the elastics with your tongue because it will make the elastic less effective.
You can actually get your Invisalign rubber bands in different colors. Generally, speaking because you have chosen Invisalign, you probably want something that’s going to be not very noticeable. Choosing tooth colored or clear colored ones will reduce their ability to be noticed.
You might wonder if wearing rubber bands for Invisalign is painful. It’s not painful, but you may experience more discomfort than you might otherwise if you were not using them. But, you will get used to them and they will no longer be uncomfortable. If you find that your jaws are feeling achy, you can use an over the counter pain reliever to help them feel better.
How Long Do You Wear Rubber bands with Invisalign Aligners?
Every person’s case will be slightly different. You may be wearing them for just a couple of months in order to provide an extra boost, or if you have a significant bite problem you may need to wear them for a year. Your orthodontist will guide you as to how long you need to wear them.
On a daily basis, you will need to make sure that you’re wearing your elastics for 22 hours a day just like you do your Invisalign aligners.
You should change out your Invisalign rubber bands as your orthodontist instructs you to do, to make sure that the elastic will be at its maximum effectiveness.
When you are given your packet of rubber bands, you will just have several hundred of them in there. If you need more, be sure to talk to your orthodontist and pick up another packet.
You should not wear your rubber bands for Invisalign longer than 24 hours at a time because they will have stretched out and lost effectiveness. You just need to throw them out when you are done using them and switch over to your new pair.
Can Invisalign Rubber Bands correct An Overbite?
Yes! Rubber bands for Invisalign can help make Invisalign more effective at correcting overbites and underbites. An overbite is when the top teeth stick out too far over the bottom teeth. And underbite is the reverse, when the bottom teeth fit on the outside of the top teeth.
Your orthodontist will recommend rubber bands for Invisalign to help apply some extra force and bring your bite into a healthy alignment.
This is one reason why you want to be sure that you get your clear aligners from an orthodontist who can oversee your treatment and make sure that you are being monitored so that your progress can be adjusted if need be.
What To Do If Your Rubber Band Hook Falls Off?
If the little hook for your rubber bands breaks off, don’t wear your rubber bands anymore and notify your orthodontist so that they can reattach the hook or get you a new set of Invisalign aligners with new hooks. In the meantime, be sure that you keep wearing your Invisalign clear aligners so that your progress doesn’t stop.
How Often Should I Change Invisalign Rubber Bands?
Ideally, you should be changing them three or four times a day, or basically every time you take out your aligners to eat or brush your teeth.
To learn more about Invisalign and rubber bands, please contact our orthodontic office today. You can give us a call or click the link. We look forward to meeting you!
Reference:
Kuncio D. A. (2014). Invisalign: current guidelines for effective treatment. The New York state dental journal, 80(2), 11–14.
