Bite, face and jawsQuestion during treatment

Will I definitely have to wear elastics if I have braces?

Answered byDr Ivelina Ivanova-Koycheva, Orthodontist (MSc)Master's degrees in orthodontics in Rome and in aligner treatment in Turin, international lecturerPublished on 12 November 2026

Wearing elastics is not a compulsory part of treatment with braces, but it is very often part of the plan for moving the teeth, both with braces and with aligners. Whether you will need to wear inter-arch elastics is decided when your treatment is planned, and you should know this before you start.

This answer is for general information. Your own case needs an examination by an orthodontist.