Accelerated Orthodontics
Posted on March 18, 2009 - Filed Under Orthodontic News
HSC Weekly 09/12/2008
School of Dentistry offers accelerated orthodontics
By David Peregrino
Researchers at the USC School of Dentistry say they have improved upon a surgical procedure that rapidly straightens teeth, delivering a healthy bite and attractive smile in months instead of years.
Led by Hessam Nowzari, director of the USC Advanced Education in Periodontology program, the researchers have published the first case study of the successful use of a patient’s own bone material for the grafting necessary in the accelerated orthodontic surgical procedure. The report appears in the May 2008 issue of the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry.
Accelerated orthodontics is gaining popularity as a way for patients, particularly adults with mature bones, to speed up the time it takes to straighten misaligned bites and fix crowded teeth. Noted periodontist Tom Wilcko, who developed the procedure at his Erie, PA practice, offers courses in the procedure, trademarked as “Wilckodontics.”
For this case study, the USC dentists used periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontics. With this technique, a periodontist or oral surgeon uses special instruments to score the bone that holds the teeth in place and then applies bone graft material over the grooves. The procedure is done under local anesthetic in the dental office.
Afterwards, as the bone begins to heal, it softens slightly, allowing teeth to be moved into alignment with dental braces in a matter of months, rather than the years required with traditional orthodontics. The cost for accelerated orthodontics typically ranges from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on the course of treatment.
Prior to the USC study, the bone graft material used for this procedure was bovine bone and bioactive glass particles to help the bone strengthen as it healed.
Nowzari said that his team believed they could improve the technique by using the patient’s own bone.
“Given a choice for grafts, nothing is better than a patient’s own tissue,” Nowzari explains. “It encourages new, healthy bone formation in the grafted area. It’s very safe and eliminates the risk of any disease transmission.”
Nowzari said that surgery to accelerate the movement of teeth is not new—dentists have been attempting it since the 1800s. But techniques and the science behind the surgeries have improved in recent years and are being investigated.
“We’re continuing to investigate the technique with other patients as part of our advanced periodontics program curriculum,” Nowzari said.
SOURCE:University of Southern California
*This article was posted for informational purposes only and not to be construed as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or healthcare regime.
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