Totally agree about getting a second opinion—did that myself after feeling stuck for months, and it was a game changer. Turns out my original ortho was being overly cautious with adjustments. Once I switched things up, progress picked up noticeably. Also, elastics are sneaky little monsters, but trust me, they're worth the hassle. One day you'll wake up and realize your bite feels completely different...it's weirdly satisfying. Hang tight, you're probably closer than you think.
I had a similar experience with elastics—felt like forever before anything changed, then suddenly one morning my teeth just fit together differently. Weirdest feeling ever, but pretty awesome after months of frustration. Funny thing is, my ortho never really explained why elastics take so long to show results. Makes me wonder if it's more about consistency or the actual tension strength... Has anyone else noticed faster progress by changing elastic strengths or patterns more frequently? Curious if that's even a thing.
My daughter's ortho mentioned something similar—consistency matters more than strength. Apparently, teeth and jaw bones respond best to steady, gentle pressure rather than frequent changes in tension. Maybe that's why patience is key here...though it's definitely frustrating waiting for results.
I remember feeling exactly the same way when I had braces for my underbite a few years ago. My orthodontist emphasized the same point—steady, gentle pressure over time was the key. It was definitely a test of patience, but looking back, I'm glad I stuck with it. The results were gradual but lasting, and now I hardly remember the frustration...just the relief of finally seeing progress. Hang in there; it really does pay off in the end.
It's reassuring to hear that patience paid off for you in the end. I'm still in the thick of it and sometimes wonder if my orthodontist is maybe a bit too cautious with adjustments. I've been thinking about getting a second opinion just for peace of mind...did you ever consider doing that during your treatment? I mean, I trust the process (mostly), but man, some days it feels like glaciers move faster than my teeth.
