Most patients will be required to wear elastics (rubber bands) that are attached to the braces to help with the correction of the teeth. Elastic wear and direction of wear can vary from patient to patient based on the type of correction required. In general, most elastic wear is to correct an anterior posterior problem such as an overbite, or asymmetrical bite problems such as a midline discrepancy between the upper and lower teeth. If Dr. Lewis requests the patient wear elastics, it is extremely important that the elastics be worn for the hours that are requested in order for the treatment to progress efficiently and so that we can obtain the proper straightening of the teeth and correction of the bite. Usually elastics are to be worn full time (22 hours per day) with the exception of eating and brushing.