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Fantastic Elastics

Home » Blog » Fantastic Elastics

  • Simply Southern Smiles
  • February 26, 2020

If you already wear traditional braces, you know all about these helpful little rubber rings. But if you are new to the world of braces, you might like to know just what kind of elastics are available and what they can do for you.

  • Ligatures: Alignment Assistance

When you get your braces, the brackets you’ve chosen will be bonded to your teeth. Once they are attached securely, an arch wire will be threaded through the brackets to provide consistent gentle pressure, moving your teeth into their best positions. But what holds that wire in place? This is where those tiny, colorful bands, called ligatures, come in. Fit snugly around the wire and the bracket, they keep the wire where it needs to be to move your teeth to a better alignment.

There are also ligatures call “c-chain ligatures,” or “power chains.” These tiny ligature bands are connected to each other, and fit across the brackets in one long strip. This design lets them not only hold your wires in place, but help move your teeth closer together at the same time. They come in a variety of sizes depending on the spacing of your teeth, and might be worn weeks or months as needed.

One thing to remember is that while ligatures are essential, they are not permanent! Every time you have your wires tightened or replaced, you can make this an opportunity to express your personality through your choice of bands. There is a wide variety of color choices available, so take advantage of it!

Show your school spirit by displaying your high school’s colors. Go orange and black for Halloween. Match your ligature tones to your go-to clothing colors. Or, go monochromatic. Match grey or silver bands to your brackets, or choose white or clear bands if you have ceramic brackets. (One word of caution—light colored ligatures can pick up stains from dark foods and drinks. On the other hand, they won’t be around that long!)

  • Rubber Bands: Building Better Bites

While ligatures are the colorful attention-getters in the elastics world, there are other bands that do very important work. When you have a malocclusion, or bad bite, your upper and lower jaws don’t fit together perfectly. We use rubber bands to align your bite correctly and carefully move it into the proper position. This is accomplished by attaching bands to tiny hooks on specially chosen brackets on the upper and lower teeth. The bands usually connect an upper bracket to a lower one, and are specifically placed to correct your unique bite problem.

If you need this type of elastic, you will play a very important part in making your orthodontic treatment work. You will probably need to wear your bands 24 hours a day, removing them only for brushing and flossing. (Talk to us about how to work with your bands when you are eating, playing an instrument, or wearing a mouthguard.) And they need to be replaced several times a day, which is where you come in.

Even if the bands look perfect, after hours of work, they lose the tightness needed to keep moving your teeth to their best position. Bands that are too loose won’t be as effective. On the other hand, doubling the bands is a bad idea because that might apply too much force. Bands come in a variety of sizes and strengths, and yours have been chosen for this specific phase of your treatment. Keep calm, keep to a schedule, and keep a supply of bands on hand in case one breaks, and everything will work out.

If this sounds like a lot of confusing information, don’t worry! Dr. Michael Woods will supply you with the right bands for your treatment, clear instructions on where and how to place them, and practice time for putting them in. You’ll probably need a mirror at first, but you’ll become an expert in no time.

If you ever have questions we can help you with, contact our Statesville, NC office immediately. We are here to guide you through the process and help you with any problems you might have. Wearing your bands consistently and correctly will help you achieve your beautiful smile in the shortest time possible. And that’s an accomplishment that is truly fantastic!

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Experience 5-Star Care

We’re thankful for the opportunity to serve our community. Hear what our patients are saying about their 5-star experience with us!
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Sandy
Dr. Woods and his team are very professional. They listened to all my concerns and answered all my questions. As someone who is in their mid-30s, I never dreamed that I would be able to smile confidently with my teeth. With the help of Dr. Woods and his team, now I can. They were able to help me make that dream come true. I am thankful beyond words.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your positive feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with us. Your support motivates our team to continue providing excellent care. We look forward to serving you again in the future! Sincerely, Dr. Woods& Team.
Kenya S.
Excellent place to go to if you need dental work done. Employees are excellent very attentive to their patients.Overall I really recommend this place.Its a very good place to get your teeth fixed.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your positive feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience with us. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we appreciate your support. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Burgandy G.
From the moment I stepped into the office, to ringing the completion bell today…I have always felt welcomed and cared for. Dr.Woods and his team are out of this world amazing, and truly care about all their patients! Dr. Woods was the third ortho I had gotten a consultation from, and the ONLY ortho that did not require teeth being pulled before braces. The first wanted to take 8 teeth, the second wanted to take 4. I am overjoyed to say that I have all my teeth, including my wisdom teeth, and have completed my ortho treatment with Dr. Woods. I originally sought orthodontic care because of my deep bite that caused headaches, ear aches, and jaw pain. A year into my orthodontic treatment all pain was gone! Getting super straight teeth and a beautiful smile is a big bonus! Thank you Dr. Woods and all his staff! I look forward to the end result of my son’s treatment as well. 😁
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Burgandy! We're thrilled to hear that you felt welcomed and cared for throughout your orthodontic journey with Dr. Woods and our team. It’s fantastic that we could provide a solution without extractions and relieve your pain, while also giving you a beautiful smile. We appreciate your trust in us for your son's treatment as well, and we look forward to delivering the same great experience for him. Your kind words mean the world to us! Sincerely, Dr. Woods & Team!
Ryan G.
Okay, here’s a five-star review for Simply Southern Smiles in Statesville:

"I can't say enough good things about Simply Southern Smiles! From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel comfortable and welcome. The office is clean, modern, and has a relaxing atmosphere. Dr. Woods is incredibly skilled and gentle. They took the time to explain every step of my treatment and answered all my questions thoroughly. I’ve always been nervous about dental visits, but Simply Southern Smiles has completely changed my perspective. My teeth have never felt cleaner or healthier! If you're looking for a top-notch dental experience in Statesville, look no further than Simply Southern Smiles. Five stars all the way!"
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you felt comfortable and welcomed during your visit. It’s great to know that Dr. Woods and our team's thorough explanations helped ease your nerves and enhance your experience. We strive to provide a clean and relaxing environment for all our patients. Your kind words motivate us to keep delivering top-notch care!
Ryan G.
Okay, here’s a five-star review for Simply Southern Smiles in Statesville:

"I can't say enough good things about Simply Southern Smiles! From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel comfortable and welcome. The office is clean, modern, and has a relaxing atmosphere. Dr. Woods is incredibly skilled and gentle. They took the time to explain every step of my treatment and answered all my questions thoroughly. I’ve always been nervous about dental visits, but Simply Southern Smiles has completely changed my perspective. My teeth have never felt cleaner or healthier! If you're looking for a top-notch dental experience in Statesville, look no further than Simply Southern Smiles. Five stars all the way!"
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you felt comfortable and welcomed during your visits. Our team strives to provide a relaxing atmosphere and thorough explanations of your treatment, so it’s great to know that this made a positive impact on your experience. We're delighted to hear that you’ve noticed the difference in your dental health. Thank you for recommending Simply Southern Smiles!
Berenice D.
If you need braces Simply Southern Smiles is the best place you can go, the stuff is super friendly and doctor Woods is the best. I recommend this place 100%.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and Dr. Woods. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to provide excellent service. If you need anything else, feel free to reach out!
Ashley N.
Love Dr. woods and the whole staff! They’re always so friendly and nice. And quick to get the job done!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your positive feedback, Ashley! We're thrilled to hear that you love Dr. Woods and our staff. Providing friendly and efficient service is our top priority, and it's wonderful to know we've met your expectations. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again!
Amaya G.
I have been coming here for the past three years and there was never a bad experience. The staff are all kind and wonderful, I will truly miss coming here for my appointments.🥲
Response from the owner:Thank you for your heartfelt review, Amaya. We're thrilled to hear that you've had such a positive experience with us over the years. Your loyalty means a lot, and we'll miss having you here for your appointments as well. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
Keshara S.
Dr. Woods and his staff were always knowledgeable and willing to help anytime needed. The office does a great job making and keeping appointments. I have a great smile now thanks to his team. I would recommend them to anyone looking for orthodontics!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for recommending us! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with your smile and that our team was able to assist you effectively. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and it's great to know we met your expectations with our service and appointment scheduling. We appreciate your support and look forward to helping more patients like you!
Valerie G.
Dr. Woods and his team work together in a pleasant atmosphere; where you can tell they respect their patients and care about their feelings. It is a happy place; and you generally feel good about your visit! I am very happy with my results thus far; though I am not completely finished yet!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Valerie, for your wonderful review! We truly appreciate your kind words about Dr. Woods and our team. It's great to hear that you feel respected and cared for during your visits. We're thrilled that you're happy with your results so far and look forward to continuing to support you on your journey. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
Blair B.
Great experience every time we’re there! Always welcoming, knowledgeable, and friendly!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Blair! We’re thrilled to hear that you consistently have a great experience with us. Our team strives to provide welcoming and knowledgeable service, and your feedback is truly appreciated. We are thrilled with your results! Share the smile proudly! Sincerely, Dr. Woods & Team!
Myla M.
They did an amazing job on my teeth! I always felt welcomed and cared for every visit. Highly recommend Dr. Woods and his staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words, Myla! We’re thrilled to hear that you felt welcomed and cared for during your visits. It's always our goal to provide amazing service, and we appreciate your recommendation. Looking forward to seeing you at your next appointment!
Howard H.
Dr Woods more than surpassed our expectation. When we first went there and had our son diagnosed he gave us the time frame in which he was able to complete it several months early no doubt due to his expertise and awesome staff! It almost makes me wish I had to get braces thanks so much Dr Woods.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words, Howard! We're thrilled to hear that Dr. Woods and our team were able to exceed your expectations and complete the process ahead of schedule. Your son's care is our top priority, and we appreciate your trust in us. We hope to continue providing excellent service in the future!
Taylor C.
Simply southern smiles has been amazing, I absolutely recommend Dr woods to anyone in the area!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with Dr. Woods at Simply Southern Smiles. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to serving you and the community in the future!
Randy L.
Dr. Woods and the staff are very friendly and professional. You cannot go wrong with Simply Southern Smiles.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Randy! We're delighted to hear that you had a positive experience with Dr. Woods and our team. Your kind words and support mean a lot to us. We are thrilled with your results, and we could not be prouder of your effort and commitment along the way Sincerely, Dr. Wood & Team!

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