Orthodontics is the science of treating crooked teeth and jaw misalignments. It is a growing field that has seen numerous innovations in recent years.
These include clear braces and Invisalign, which are less visible than traditional metal braces. Other advances include accelerated orthodontics, which reduces treatment time.
Digital x-rays offer orthodontists detailed three-dimensional images of the skull, jaw, and oral bone structure. This allows for more accurate diagnoses and better treatment planning.
Clear Braces
While silver braces remain the most popular treatment, clear braces are an excellent alternative that many patients prefer. They can correct a wide variety of orthodontic issues, including crooked teeth and spaces, overbites, underbites, and malocclusions. They’re also typically less painful and require fewer orthodontist visits.
In recent years, orthodontists have been able to improve clear braces through new technology and methods. This includes a new process for creating impressions that’s quicker and more accurate, plus better analysis and planning.
Another advancement is the use of self-ligating brackets, which eliminate the need for elastic or metal ties. These new systems help reduce discomfort and also allow the orthodontist to tighten the archwire more easily, meaning fewer appointments are required.
Other changes include using more advanced wire materials such as nickel or copper-titanium, which respond to the heat of the mouth and bend and tighten more naturally. This makes them a more comfortable choice for patients than stainless steel and helps to shorten overall treatment times.
Lastly, the use of TAD (temporary anchorage devices) can help to make the move of the teeth more efficient by providing extra support for the roots of certain teeth. This can cut down the number of times a patient needs to have their anchor teeth extracted or may even eliminate the need for headgear appliances altogether.
In addition to these advancements, orthodontists have also been able to develop new techniques that speed up the movement of the teeth. This is known as accelerated orthodontics and uses low-frequency vibrations to make teeth move faster than they would normally. This means that a patient’s treatment could be up to 50% faster.
Invisalign
A cutting-edge alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign utilizes clear plastic aligner trays to correct misaligned teeth and bites. This treatment is ideal for adults and teens with mild to moderate alignment issues.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign trays can be easily removed, allowing patients to practice their usual oral hygiene routines without worrying about food particles getting stuck in brackets or wires. This allows patients to floss and brush with ease, minimizing the risk of tooth decay or gum disease that can delay treatment times.
Invisalign is also less invasive than conventional braces, which can lead to a more comfortable treatment process. Rather than using elastic ties, which can apply friction and pressure to the teeth, Invisalign uses a sliding mechanism that allows the teeth to move more naturally. This decreases the need for frequent adjustments, leading to a more efficient treatment timeline.
Furthermore, Invisalign can be customized to suit each patient’s unique needs. For example, if a patient has a minor skeletal issue in their jaw, their orthodontist can add an Invisalign mandibular advancement feature that moves the lower jaw forward slightly to help align the bite. This helps reduce overlapping of the upper and lower teeth and create more room for the tongue, which can prevent breathing problems.
Smith & Heymann Orthodontics is proud to offer state-of-the-art orthodontic care to our Mebane, Roxboro, and Chapel Hill patients. To learn more about what the latest innovations in orthodontic technology can do for you, contact us today and schedule a free consultation. Our expert team is committed to staying on top of the latest developments in the industry so we can bring the best possible treatment options to our patients.
Orthotropics
Orthotropics is a facial growth approach that guides the way your jaws grow to correct underlying skeletal and dental problems. It also improves posture and oral habits, and enhances the appearance of your face and teeth.
Traditional orthodontics focuses on straightening teeth to create a beautiful smile and good bite (occlusion). This is usually accomplished with braces, clear aligners such as Invisalign, and sometimes with headgear or elastics. If the discrepancy in your jaw relationship is severe, it may be resolved with jaw surgery when you are an adult, after all of your growth has finished.
The main difference between Orthotropics and orthodontics is that it influences facial growth instead of fixing crooked teeth afterward. It is most effective if it begins at ages five to six, when the face and jaws are still very malleable. The Orthotropics philosophy claims that malocclusion is caused by genetics and poor postural and breathing patterns, and that the primary goal of orthodontic treatment should be to address these factors rather than focusing solely on teeth alignment.
An early start to treatment with Orthotropics can help children avoid the need for jaw surgery later on and eliminate the need to extract permanent teeth or wear retainers. The process is also less invasive than traditional orthodontics and uses no appliances that retract the lower or upper jaw. The most recent advancement in this field is the use of temporary anchorage devices, or TADs, which are titanium mini-screws typically used for oral surgery that can be placed into the bone to reduce movement and allow for faster tooth movement. This technology can significantly shorten your treatment time without compromising patient comfort.
Accelerated Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment requires a lot of time and commitment. The goal is to create functional harmony in occlusion and improve the appearance of teeth, but it can take months or even years for these procedures to show their results. With accelerated orthodontics, it’s possible to get straighter teeth and a healthier smile in a shorter amount of time.
Various methods to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement have been studied and developed for many years. These methods range from specific bracket types to pharmacological approaches with prostaglandins, interleukins, leukotrienes, vitamin D and platelet-rich plasma. In addition, surgical techniques to impact alveolar bone have also been used.
One such clinical technique, periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontics (PAOO), combines selective corticotomy and particulate bone grafting. It’s theoretically based on the regional accelerated phenomenon (RAP) that Frost identified, where bone healing facilitates rapid tooth movement [1].
Another accelerating orthodontic technique is micro-osteoperforation technology, which reduces treatment time by 50% and makes it easier for patients to tolerate orthodontic force. This method also reduces discomfort, which can be a significant concern for adults who must undergo orthodontic treatment while juggling professional and personal commitments.
Other accelerated orthodontics options such as a piezocision device, called PROPEL, deliver minimal invasion to the surrounding bone tissue by using an insulated tip to perform micro-osteoperforations. The tip is sterilized and ready to use, so there’s no risk of infection. These devices have been shown to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement by stimulating inflammatory markers and enhancing osteoclastic activity, which stimulates the bone remodeling process. These innovative advancements can significantly shorten your treatment duration and help you achieve the beautiful smile of your dreams. They are also suitable for adults, whose teeth and bones are less active than those of teenagers, making it more difficult to achieve rapid dental changes with traditional treatments.
PROPEL
Orthodontic treatment is important for getting a straight smile, but it can take time. Thankfully, new technologies such as PROPEL can help reduce the amount of time that you need to wear braces or aligners.
PROPEL is a clinically tested technique that stimulates the alveolar bone that supports your teeth and makes them more pliable. It also accelerates tooth movement. Using a handheld device, your doctor will make micro-perforations in the bone tissue, increasing blood flow and triggering an inflammatory response. This triggers your body to remodel the area and create new bone faster, reducing the overall treatment time of Invisalign or braces by 50 to 60 percent. Only advanced clinics across the country can conduct this procedure. Fortunately, you can read reviews for progressive dental center online and see how they can help give you a better smile in the future.
In traditional orthodontics, pressure from your aligners or braces forces your teeth to move through the bone, remodeling it as they shift. However, some areas of your mouth may be more pliable than others, which slows the process down. With PROPEL, your doctor can create holes in the bone to speed up the remodeling process, allowing you to get a straighter smile in less time.
You might feel a bit of pain or discomfort during the procedure, but it will not last long. Once the treatment site heals, you will be able to eat and drink as normal. You will need to avoid foods that are spicy or acidic, though, as they can irritate the treated area.
Crooked teeth can lead to a wide variety of health problems, including tooth decay and periodontal disease. They can also be difficult to clean, which is why it is important to treat them as soon as possible. If you want to know more about accelerated orthodontics and if you would like to try the PROPEL method, please contact us today. We will be happy to examine your smile and recommend the best treatments for you.
