Properly Applying Dental Rubber Bands After Jaw Wiring: A Guide

Dental rubber bands help to hold your jaws steady when you have them wired. The tension the rubber bands creates helps to prevent your jaw from slipping and causing discomfort. You can become equally uncomfortable if you do not install the rubber bands correctly. Incorrectly applied rubber bands can even set back the healing process of your jaw. Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully so you can install the rubber bands properly at home.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Rubber bands

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Don a pair of rubber gloves or wash your hands before sticking your fingers inside your mouth. Hold your cheek away from your teeth with your weak hand. Don't move your jaw or you may experience discomfort.

• 2

  Hold the rubber band with your dominant hand and push it into your mouth. Count your teeth from the back of your mouth on your bottom row of teeth until you reach the tooth where you will attach the rubber band (your doctor should tell you which tooth to install the rubber band near). Hook the rubber band to the wire peg over the correct tooth.

• 3

  Count your teeth on the top row until you reach the correct wire peg. Hook the loose end of the rubber band over the wire peg.