The field of orthodontics is centered around helping patients obtain beautiful, healthy smiles in the best way possible. As professional orthodontists, we know first-hand how much a great smile can improve one’s self-image, confidence, and oral health. We also know how hard it is to stay patient as you wait for that perfect smile to appear.
Most orthodontic treatment takes around 18-24 months to complete. In recent years, many orthodontists have sought to shorten treatment time by using new tools and techniques to expedite tooth movement. Beverly Hills Orthodontics’ own Dr. Monica Madan is one of these orthodontists, and accelerated orthodontics has become a staple of BHO’s offered services.
Given that accelerated orthodontics is still a burgeoning field, many patients are unaware of what these treatments entail. If you’re new to the world of accelerated orthodontics, let this article serve as your guide, as we explore topics like:
- The different accelerated orthodontic treatments available today
- What makes someone a good candidate for accelerated orthodontics
- Which accelerated orthodontics options are most recommended by the BHO team
If you have any additional questions on accelerated orthodontic treatment, the BHO team is also available to speak during an in-person or virtual consultation:
How Accelerated Orthodontic Treatments Work
Accelerated orthodontics is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of treatments and procedures that facilitate faster tooth realignment. Used in combination with fixed braces or Invisalign clear aligners, accelerated orthodontic treatments improve oral device performance by stimulating the jawbone.
What’s so important about jawbone stimulation? To answer this question, it’s important to review some basic tooth anatomy.
Every one of your teeth is embedded into your jawbone via ligaments which tether the roots of your teeth to the bone in your jaw. Strong, secure, and protected by layers of gum tissue, healthy bone and gums keep teeth firmly in place as you perform essential oral functions, such as chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Ligaments are like “shocks” in a car, they absorb the sharp bite forces and make sure teeth don’t break. These ligaments also mediate orthodontic forces on your teeth facilitating movement. Given how strong the bone is, it often takes orthodontists years to realign patients’ smiles.
Orthodontic appliances such as braces and clear aligners move teeth via selectively applied pressure. As the appliances move your teeth, the pressure naturally causes new bone to form in the jaw. The new bone helps keep teeth securely in place as they reach perfect alignment.
Accelerated orthodontic treatments expedite this process by influencing the jawbone to produce new bits of bone faster. In our next section, we’ll take a look at the different ways this can be accomplished.
Top Accelerated Orthodontic Options
Today, orthodontists have access to a number of accelerated orthodontic treatments, ranging from surgical procedures to patient-operated oral devices. At Beverly Hills Orthodontics, we utilize many of these treatment options when developing patient care plans.
In broad terms, accelerated orthodontic approaches fit into two categories: minor oral surgery and oral device treatment:
Minor Oral Surgery
Orthodontists can use a variety of surgical procedures in conjunction with braces or Invisalign to accelerate orthodontic treatment times. Most of these procedures are minimally invasive and involve making small incisions around certain teeth to enable faster tooth movement. Other surgical procedures involve shaving the jawbone and gums to stimulate new bone growth.
These procedures are performed under local anesthesia. While they may cause mild discomfort, unpleasant symptoms should disappear within a day or two.
Oral Device Treatment
Accelerated orthodontic devices can significantly reduce treatment time. At Beverly Hills Orthodontics, we recommend OrthoPulse to patients that want to accelerate their orthodontic care plans.
OrthoPulse is a patient-operated oral device that emits low levels of near-infrared light. When you position OrthoPulse on your gums, the light naturally stimulates the tooth roots and increases chemical energy. As a result, your braces or clear aligners will be able to reposition teeth more quickly.
OrthoPulse is completely comfortable and you only need to use the device for 10 minutes a day to obtain great results.
What Makes Someone a Good Candidate for Accelerated Orthodontics?
The first and most important requirement is that your jawbone is healthy enough for accelerated orthodontics. Both surgical procedures and oral device treatment require you to have a strong jawbone and great oral health. Generally speaking, however, if you are healthy enough for orthodontic treatment, you will likely be healthy enough for accelerated orthodontics.
Beyond great health, other requirements include:
- A desire for shorter treatment time
- The self-discipline needed to follow through with treatment
- Availability for more frequent visits to the orthodontist
If this sounds like you, accelerated orthodontics could be a great option.
Wondering If You Qualify for Accelerated Orthodontics? Schedule an Appointment Today to Find Out
With the aid of accelerated orthodontics, qualifying patients are able to obtain perfect smiles at faster rates than ever before. If you’re interested in discovering the benefits of accelerated orthodontics for yourself, schedule a consultation with Beverly Hills Orthodontics today to learn if you qualify for treatment.