Austin, TX – At Pure Smiles Orthodontics, we work hard every day to help our patients meet their smile goals. But we can’t do all the work alone – most of our patients have to do a bit of work on their end, as well.

Patient compliance is different for every patient. For some, it means wearing their Invisalign aligners a minimum of 20 hours a day. For others, it means wearing their tiny rubber bands exactly as the orthodontist tells them to.

These elastics play a very important role in creating your final smile. Your braces work to create a straighter smile, but that isn’t our only goal during treatment – we also want to ensure a harmonious bite. Elastics can help us accomplish that.

We know that rubber bands can be uncomfortable to wear, especially in the beginning. Discomfort typically subsides in a few days, as long as there is consistent wear. You can take an Tylenol pain reliever to help with any discomfort. Just like it took a bit of time to get used to the braces in your mouth, in no time you will be used to changing the elastics in and out, and you won’t even notice them anymore.

One of the most commonly asked questions orthodontists are asked is “how long will treatment take?” While your orthodontist can’t tell you exactly how long you’ll be in braces, they can offer an estimate – but this estimate takes into account ideal patient compliance. If you are required to wear your elastics 20+ hours a day, but you only wear them half that amount of time, you can see your time in treatment greatly extended.