Can I wear rubbber bands to fix an over expanded mouth?

Hi! Before I moved states , my orthodontist had me wearing braces for almost 3 years and never once mentioned that he over expanded my top teeth (I had a a palet expander). I went to my new orthodontist and he said it should’ve been collapsed and I should’ve gotten my braces off a year ago. I’m getting them off, but I decided not to continue with 6 more months of treatment , in order to collapse the top teeth and make sure they fit perfectly over the bottom . My new orthodontist put in as thick of a wire as he could in order to fix the bite as much as he can in the little time before I get them off . I can tell the right side has improved a lot , they fit almost completely over my top teeth , but the left side isn’t moving . I have 4mm (3/16”) rubber bands from my previous orthodontist . Is there any way/pattern I could wear those rubber bands in order to collapse the left side’s bite more ???

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Answer: Function of Orthodontic Elastics

By Sarah h
Dental Professional

Unfortunately, orthodontic rubber bands are only used to shift the cuspid or molar relationship (bite). Your palate will not collapse (grow closer together or lose bone) on its own. A palatal expander is placed and used to widen the bone. This is accomplished with small movements (turning of a key) placing pressure outward on the midpalatal suture as you are still growing. Once that has taken place, the bone fills into the area, therefore making it impossible to shrink later on. You have invested a lot of time and money in your treatment. Six more months of treatment is a short amount of time to correct something that you may be unhappy with forever, if not corrected.

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