La Habra/Chino Hills, CA – If you’ve worn braces before, chances are good you wished more than once that there was a way to speed up your treatment time. Well, there’s hope out there now and treatment times are being reduced, while making your treatment more comfortable.
Most orthodontic offices today have access to this type of advanced technology. Products such as AcceleDent and Propel work to reduce treatment time and combined with other time saving technologies, months can be shaved off that total treatment time! So, what are they and how do they work?
“AcceleDent and Propel’s VPro5 use the same basic principles,” says Dr. Robert Gire. “Both products provide patented micro-pulses to accelerate bone remodeling. This is the process of tooth straightening that often takes the longest because we have to wait for the bones of the mouth to loosen the teeth as the braces work to guide them to their ideal locations. AcceleDent and VPro5 speed this process up and have been proven to be safe and comfortable to use.”
AcceleDent and VPro5 utilizes a mouthpiece that distributes gentle vibratory technology to accelerate the tooth movement. The calibrated micro-pulses are strong enough to speed up tooth movement, but gentle enough that you’ll barely know you’re using it. You use the AcceleDent mouthpiece for 20 minutes a day while VPro5 claims only five minutes are necessary to speed up your treatment.
Propel has another product that creates micro osteo-perforations (MOPs) (or small holes in the gums and bone) to stimulate the bone remodeling. What’s happening is it’s creating an inflammatory environment in the area of the MOPs, thus increasing blood flow and perfusion on necessary tooth moving cells. This introduction of “trauma” essentially speeds the process of tooth movement. For some patients, using Propel’s MOPs can reduce treatment time by nearly half.
“I know many patients, or parents, who seem skeptical when they hear about accelerated orthodontics,” says Dr. Gire. “But evidence based studies combined with empirical evidence shows that they work, and I have seen them track Invisalign trays better and close spacer faster than just the orthodontic appliances on their own.”
AcceleDent and Propel are both FDA approved and safe to use for all ages. Adult orthodontic patients especially may love the benefits they provide. Today, one in five orthodontic patients is an adult and while they are excited about the benefits of braces and aligners, they don’t love the idea of being in brackets and wires or the need to wear aligners for an extended period of time.
Accelerated orthodontics is a great option because they can be used with any type of braces. Whether you choose standard metal, clear braces, or Invisalign, AcceleDent and Propel can have you seeing your new smile faster than ever.
“It is also important to note that every patient will have a different experience while in orthodontic treatment, even with the use of accelerated orthodontics,” says Dr. Gire. “We always encourage our patients never to compare their treatment to anyone else’s, because each patient is unique. Our mouths move the teeth at different rates, so it’s difficult to do straight comparisons.”
If you are interested in learning more about how your treatment may benefit from AcceleDent or Propel, call Gire Orthodontics today at 562-690-1199 (La Habra) or 909-393-9911 (Chino Hills).