A beautiful smile isn’t built in a day.
It’s no secret that orthodontic treatment can take years. In fact, treatment length is usually one of the biggest concerns patients have about correcting their bite or achieving the smile of their dreams.
And it makes total sense! Even with newer, less-conspicuous options like Invisalign©, most patients want to get their orthodontic treatment over and done with as quickly as possible. We used to tell them that there wasn’t much we could do to speed things up, but now there are several options for more efficient and faster orthodontic treatment. At Moody Orthodontics, we utilize state-of-the-art technology and FDA-approved methods and devices designed specifically to accelerate treatment times.
Accelerated Orthodontic Options
At Moody Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer accelerated treatment options to our patients: Acceledent, PROPEL, and self-ligating braces such as the Damon System.
Acceledent
Acceledent is an FDA-approved device that speeds tooth movement 30-50% and reduces discomfort! It’s an awesome little tool that you bite onto for 5 minutes each day. It’s a painless process that uses gentle micro-vibrations to stimulate blood flow and bone remodeling, allowing teeth to change position faster.
PROPEL
PROPEL or micro osteoperforation (MOPs) is a process of creating small pinhole openings in the bone around teeth to accelerate tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. It’s an in-office procedure done by your orthodontist with no down time after. The PROPEL treatment can be used in conjunction with braces or Invisalign treatment.
Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces are placed on your teeth the same way as traditional braces, but they use no colored tie or ligature to hold the orthodontic wire in place. Instead, these braces use special doors (or gates) that hold the wire in place. This allows for less friction and more rapid tooth movement. In some cases, it can also reduce the discomfort and overall treatment time.
How Much Faster Are We Talking?
Easy there! We get excited about these treatments too, but let’s be clear—beautiful smiles must be stable and not harmful to your teeth or jaws. In other words, while these treatments will likely speed up your treatment, it still takes time to align teeth and allow things to remodel naturally.
The key difference between FDA-approved solutions versus other, too-good-to-be-true options is that treatment is accelerated in a healthy way that produces a stable and beautiful outcome. These limitations don’t minimize the benefits of accelerated orthodontics, of course. Research suggests that some of these methods can reduce treatment times up to 50% while boosting tooth movement by 106% during the initial treatment! For orthodontic treatments that may take months or years, these numbers are significant. If you planned on having braces for a full year, the right accelerated treatment could mean a new smile in as few as 6 months!
And while these accelerated methods may not be a good fit for every patient, Dr. Moody is eager to work with you and explore your options. Dr. Moody prides herself on efficient treatment plans that result in not only beautiful and functional smiles, but ones that are stable and will last. After all, orthodontic treatments are equal parts art and science, and the team at Moody Ortho can come up with a personalized treatment that fits your health, lifestyle, and budget.
Contact us today to learn more!
