There are some pros and cons of accelerated orthodontics. The benefits are that if the orthodontic treatment is shorter, the problems that arise with long term braces such as tooth decay or gum problems are reduced.
With accelerated orthodontics, the patient sees the change quickly. This allows the patient to see the benefits of the treatment more quickly. It also helps the dental team, along with the patient, to decide on the ideal mouth disciplinary treatment plan.
Accelerated orthodontics is a new field, so there is not as much research or evidence to show the results of your treatment over a long period of time, though no adverse effects are predicted as long as all instructions for treatment and care following treatment are followed correctly.
Because your teeth will shift quickly, you will require more frequent adjustments. You may be asked to see your orthodontist twice a month instead of once a month.
Can anybody have an accelerated orthodontics treatment?
Accelerated orthodontics is not for everyone. Patients with bone disease, ankylosed teeth, non-compliant patients, and heavy smokers are not good candidates for these types of procedures.
As with conventional orthodontics, you will need to wear a retainer after the braces are removed to prevent your teeth from moving back to their original position.
Accelerated orthodontics is a relatively new field and every year more research is being done and these techniques are being used in more diverse ways. Some of these techniques are addressing gum recessions at the same time as orthodontic treatment, and are also able to solve challenging orthodontic problems more easily with the help of such procedures.
If you have always been bothered by crooked teeth or have problems with biting and chewing but didn’t like the thought of wearing braces for many years, accelerated orthodontics may be a good alternative for you. If you are interested in having an accelerated orthodontic treatment, make an appointment with a specialist here.
Is Accelerated Orthodontics right for me?
Accelerated Orthodontics is appropriate for all cases and all types of braces.
Patients entering our practice, as well as those already undergoing active orthodontic therapy, can greatly reduce their time in orthodontic treatment by opting for the Fast Track with Accelerated Orthodontics.
Additionally, patients that have delayed or have declined conventional orthodontics due to the length of treatment now have a viable alternative.
Any patient that desires straight teeth in less time is eligible for the Accelerated Orthodontics option. Moira Wong Orthodontics offers Accelerated Orthodontics in conjunction with other periodontal procedures.
What is Accelerated Orthodontics?
Over 2 decades of research has culminated in the development of accelerated orthodontics. Teeth may now be moved safely, and approximately 2 times faster. Accelerated orthodontics is a combination of advanced orthodontics and periodontal oral surgery routinely used in dentistry for other objectives.
However, when used in combination with advanced orthodontics, the orthodontists’ gain a powerful advantage in reducing normally accepted orthodontic treatment times. Fast track patients in our practice undergo accelerated orthodontics, completing treatment in less time than traditional orthodontic patients.
Traditionally, orthodontic treatment takes a long time due to the limitations of the bone that surrounds the teeth. The slow and continual application of orthodontic forces triggers a biological process resulting in extremely slow tooth movement. This is the mechanism that orthodontists have used to move teeth for the past 100 years.
Accelerated orthodontics solves this dilemma by employing advanced orthodontics combined with periodontal oral surgery which activates the bone that surrounds the teeth. By stimulating and softening the bone, the teeth can be moved at an accelerated rate, while at the same time adding new bone to create a better foundation for the teeth. Activation of the bone surrounding the teeth involves the selective vertical scratching and placement of additional bone graft material.
Maximal surgical precision is accomplished with minimal soft tissue injury. Particulate bone grafting material is placed over the activated bone (augmentation) prior to suturing. The activated tooth-supporting bone will allow and enhance accelerated tooth movement starting at two weeks postoperatively. Both upper and lower jaws can undergo the procedures at the same in-office appointment as well as a single tooth, or group of teeth.
The reactivity and responsiveness of upper and lower jaws to activation and augmentation is consistent with the cell biology and physiologic stages are seen in the wound healing pattern of the regional acceleration phenomenon (RAP). Striking bursts in bone activity (demineralization and remineralization) occurs adjacent to the site of the activation and augmentation. Accelerated orthodontics demonstrates how the biological response can be modified to the patient’s advantage. Truly: in vivo tissue engineering.
Additional benefits of Accelerated Orthodontics due to the activated and augmented bone can be
- Increased bone volume can improve facial aesthetics in some cases.
- Increased tooth and post-orthodontic stability
- Fewer extractions required for orthodontics
- Repair of existing bony and/or soft tissue defects that support the teeth.