In and Out of Braces in a shorter amount of time!
“How Much Longer Until My Braces Come Off” is probably the question most frequently asked of any orthodontist. Wearing braces can be a nuisance and many potential patients decline needed orthodontic work just because of the lengthy treatment times and the multitude of
appointments that are required. It is obvious that by dramatically shortening treatment times that many patients would choose to have the needed orthodontic work performed.
To date, most major advances in orthodontics have been mechanical in nature. Brackets have become bondable and smaller, pure tipping mechanics have evolved into the straight-wire philosophy, and archwires have gone through a dramatic metallurgical metamorphosis from stiff wires that deliver heavy short-term forces to temperature reactive wires that deliver more gentle longer-term forces.Continued progress in orthodontics will require broadening our focus to not only include the efficient application of forces to the teeth, but to exploit the potential of the surrounding bone to respond to these forces. In the past, corticotomies have been performed with the intent of inducing “block movement” to accelerate orthodontic movement. Although we still believe that this segmental movement can play a significant role, we have generally de-emphasized it in favor of regional accelerated phenomenon (RAP). So as not to be limited by an alveolus that is insufficient in size or incorrect in shape, a form of alveolar augmentation has been incorporated into the process. The amalgamation of these philosophies has resulted in a new orthodontic treatment name the Accelerated Osteogenic OrthodonticsTM (AOOTM) procedure.
With the AOOTM procedure most orthodontic cases in both adolescents and adults can be completed 3 to 4 times faster than would be possible with conventional orthodontics. This is accomplished by combining efficient orthodontic mechanics and time-tested alveolar decortication and augmentation techniques. The end result is straight teeth, a structurally sound periodontium, and patients that are extremely grateful.