A route to getting braces off faster - Dr. Asif Chatoo, London Lingual

A route to getting braces off faster

Some people are put off having their teeth fixed because of the length of time orthodontic treatment can take – often 12 to 24 months. A new device, however, has been developed in the US which is just about to change this.

Fast tooth movement is not new. Companies have looked at designing products in the past that would speed up orthodontic treatment, including laser treatments. But they have all had their drawbacks in terms of pain, side effects and severe root resorption. Acceledent, however, has stepped up to the plate and met the challenge by using a cyclical force. This increases the level of cellular signaling (signals between cells involved in tooth movement) and regulates bone remodeling to enhance the rate orthodontic tooth movement when used with braces.

Acceledent, developed by OrthoAccell Technologies in Texas, is claimed to decrease treatment by 30% to 50%. It is being heralded as the “a fast track to straight teeth”. The big plus with this device is that it has been designed to complement existing orthodontic treatments – both brackets and clear aligners or so called ‘invisible braces”. It can also be used with any combination of braces on the top or bottom.

The premise behind the device is very simple – braces apply a steady force to straighten teeth. As opposed to using only constant pressure, Acceledent enhances the treatment through low frequency pulsation of the teeth. This form of therapy was first used on orthopedic patients with osteoporosis. Vibration has also been used to accelerate fracture healing in long bones.

Results from an early clinical trial by OrthoAccell Technologies Inc, have demonstrated an overall tooth movement rate of 2.1mm per month which is up to 50% faster than traditional treatment.

The same study also demonstrated the safety of the device through a detailed measurement and statistical analysis of root resorption mean values below 0.5mm. This figure is well below the levels of 2 mm, or one-third of root length considered clinically significant by scientific researchers.

Acceledent is made up of a vibrating plate which, if used for just 20 minutes a day, enhances the orthodontic force applied by braces or aligners to accelerate the rate of tooth movement. The user bites on the plate, inserted in the mouth, with just enough force to keep in place and stabilize it. Once turned on the plate releases a comfortable pulsating movement providing therapy in gentle microvibrations known as cyclical forces.

Acceledent is scientifically tuned and fitted to each individual patient by the orthodontist. This is not a product that you will see appear on the high street with other health gadgets.

Battery powered Acceledent is hands-free, allowing users to carry out routine tasks during their daily treatment sessions, such as reading or watching TV. The battery charge lasts 3 – 5 days and the device is as easy to pack on your travels as a mobile phone.

Acceledent is a very exciting innovation in the world of orthodontics and I have already had interest from my patients on the device, attracted by the significantly reduced treatment times. Especially those who want to speed up treatment for a special event such as a wedding.

The question that has been asked many time is - how can we move teeth quicker? Acceledent has come up with the answer in a neat package that will undoubtedly appeal to the hectic lifestyles we lead today.

Dr. Asif Chatoo

Dr Asif Chatoo, BSc., BDS, FDS RCS (Eng), MSc., MOrth RCS (Eng)
is a specialist in Orthodontics. www.londonlingualbraces.com