Healthy smiles are important for self-confidence, mental health, and personal and professional relationships.

Straight teeth are the foundation of a healthy smile. Whether it be at an early age or later in life, teeth can become crooked. Misaligned teeth not only adversely impact your smile, but can also lead to oral health problems, issues with your bite, or speech struggles. Resolving tooth misalignment as soon as possible is important. It’s easier to keep up with oral hygiene with straight teeth, and it can also relieve stress on the jaw.

However, orthodontic treatment can take quite a bit of time, which is a primary reason many patients put off care. The average treatment time for traditional braces can be anywhere from 18 to 36 months.

But there is good news for patients who are ready for a big, bright smile in a fraction of the time. Accelerated Ortho is a highly effective procedure that shortens the timeframe for traditional orthodontic treatment. Here is everything you need to know about the process.

Accelerated Ortho Treatment Can Significantly Reduce Treatment Times

The time it takes to resolve crooked teeth through traditional orthodontics is often considered one of the biggest drawbacks. From juggling multiple appointments to wearing braces for up to two years, traditional treatment isn’t always a popular option among patients.

Accelerated ortho treatments aim to accelerate orthodontic treatment time. It doesn’t replace the need for braces — it supplements it. There are a few different types of Accelerated Ortho, but they all include procedures that stimulate bone growth and encourage your teeth to move more quickly into place. Accelerated Ortho treatments fall into two categories:

• Non-Surgical Accelerated Ortho – These procedures stimulate tooth movement through micro-vibrations, which are often emitted through a removable mouthpiece. These procedures do not require any incisions.
• Surgical Accelerated Ortho – These procedures involve reshaping the jawbone. By causing a minimal amount of trauma, bone growth is stimulated, which can support braces in moving teeth much faster. These procedures do require an incision, but they can also be more effective at accelerating movement.

There are many different forms of Accelerated Ortho treatments, but here are the three most common:

• Piezocision – A minimally invasive surgical treatment that involves vibrations in order to provide minor injury to the bone microscopically.
• Propel – A minimally invasive treatment in which a device is used to create Micro-Osteoperforation in the jaw, which can lead to tiny openings in the bone.
• Acceledent – A non-invasive form of Accelerated Ortho that requires patients to wear a mouthpiece that supplies about 20 minutes of vibrations per day.

Benefits Of Accelerated Ortho Treatment

The major benefit of Accelerated Ortho is faster treatment time. When used in combination with traditional orthodontics, treatment times can be reduced from 18 to 36 months to 6 to 12 months, or about 50%. These procedures work in conjunction with braces, but reduce the amount of time you have to wear braces. Because the treatment helps to straighten teeth much faster, patients can see the results much sooner and can expect significantly fewer appointments.

It’s important to note that Accelerated Ortho is primarily for aesthetic purposes, and it does not improve your bite or alignment independently without traditional orthodontic treatment.

Do I Qualify For Accelerated Ortho Treatment?

There is no age limit for Accelerated Ortho. This cosmetic procedure is appropriate for both children and seniors; however, certain health conditions may disqualify you. If you have oral health conditions such as severe gum disease or bone loss in the jaw, you may not be able to receive treatment. Those with diabetes, osteoporosis, or weak immune systems also may not qualify for certain types of accelerated ortho. To know for sure, schedule an appointment with your periodontist to review your health history.

Faster orthodontic treatment means you can spend less time worrying about your teeth and more time living your life with newfound confidence. With Accelerated Ortho, you don’t have to wait two years for straight teeth. You can have a perfect smile faster than ever.

If you’re ready to get started with Accelerated Ortho, schedule your appointment with Dr. Beauchamp at Ormond Beach Periodontics today. As one of Central Florida’s leading periodontal practices, we are always at the forefront of new dental treatments.