Do Rubber Bands or Chains on Braces Actually Work?

asked 11 months ago by YoWhatUp in Sherman Oaks, CA
Latest answer by Jacqueline Demko, DDS, MSD
Question viewed 732 times
Tags: age 18-24, bite, effective, mandible, overjet, rubber band, surgery

I am a Class III, 20 year old, with an edge to edge bite. My upper jaw falls .05mm ahead of my lower jaw. (overjet?) My question is how effective is rubber bands or chains at correcting this malocclusion? I have noticed that the problem seems to be literally 50% maxilla underdeveloped and 50% mandible protruding. Is it possible to achieve a class I bite eschewing surgery and using rubber bands or chains? If so, how does it work, do the jaws actually move? When is surgery necessary?Thank

5 answers to Do Rubber Bands or Chains on Braces Actually Work?

Correcting a mild Class III bite (underbite)

I have to commend you for the sophistication of your question: you have really done your research! From the information you've provided it would appear that rubber bands, along with braces, will be successful in correcting your bite. Of course to be sure you should visit an experienced orthodontist who can fully analyze your situation and provide answers to all your questions. In general it is a good thing to avoid surgery and your case sounds like it will not need it... more

Brian Povolny, DDS, PhD
Seattle Cosmetic Dentist

www.smilesatsouthcenter.com

Rubber bands can achieve significant correction with braces or Invisalign

Rubber bands have been helping to correct both Class II and Class III corrections for many dacades. The underdevelopment of your upper jaw can best be handled with the use of dentofacial orthopedics, in order to expand your upper jaw to eliminate its underdevelopment. This can be done non surgically even in severe cases, as you can see by looking at my cases on this site or my website. More traditional orthodontic approaches will use surgery on the more extreme cases, but... more

Kent Lauson, DDS, MS
Denver Orthodontist

www.aotmj.com

Do they work?

The short answer is Yes. Are they enough for all cases? That answer is No. Will they work for yours? From what you describe, Yes. You should consider that rubber bands move teeth, not bones. Moving the teeth can improve your profile balance but because they are moving the teeth that sit in the bone, not because they re actually moving the true skeletal foundation. There are only two things that can change your skeletal foundation. 1) surgery 2) lots of very light consistent pressure... more

Jacqueline Demko, DDS, MSD
Chesterfield Orthodontist

Class III malocclusion correction with rubber bands or chains.

It sounds like the Class III problem is not overly severe and it likely could be corrected using what are termed class III elastics (rubber bands) in conjunction with braces. The "chains" referred to are probably elastomeric chains used for space closure in individual dental arches and would not really address the intrer arch discrepancy between upper and lower. That would be best done by the Class III elastics. I use the Damon system and I think we do get... more

Clark L. Jones, DDS, MSD
Phoenix Orthodontist

Can Orthodontic Rubberbands Prevent Surgery?

Teeth move when force is placed upon them by an outside source. That might be braces, aligners, headgear, or rubberbands. While the amount of movement is different in each patient, generally "if you wear them, your teeth will move" holds true with rubber bands for patients of all ages. The amount of movement and the results that can be produced are affected by several variables. In the situation you are describing (trying to increase the amount of overjet so you can avoid surgery),... more

Greg Jorgensen, DMD, MS
Albuquerque Orthodontist

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