Are there any biodegradable elastics?

Are box shaped elastics a sign of getting braces off?

• I've had braces for 17 months (ortho put me on a 22 month plan but says it looks like i'm getting them off earlier) and my orthodontist told me that he is starting me on box shaped elastics full time because I overcorrected my bite. How is that possible? I was placed on elastics before but they were only diagonally and i wore them religiously 24 hours a day like i was told then he told me to wear them only at night then took me off completely for two months. Is it possible that it was moving my teeth too fast? Now here I am back to wearing elastics again but they're box shaped on both sides of my mouth. I'm afraid that this overcorrecting will cause me to be in braces longer, but i'm unsure because i've also heard that this is the last step. I am hoping to get a professional's answer or share your similar experience.

• Answer:

  It depends on your situation i had these in the middle of my treatment, and i still didnt take my braces off..It just depends on how your dentist is planning on correcting your teeth and in what order. You may really be almost done, or your teeth are shifting too much or unexpectidly that this might be necessary before moving to another step.Oh and btw,even if you do wear elastics regularly there can be a overcorrected overbite...it just means ur teeth move more than usually and than expected. So dont worry about it, hopefully you will remove your braces soon and depending on your situation the dentist can only tell u the reason behind it because everyones teeth are different.