New Device Could Shorten Orthodontic Treatment

The AcceleDent device was developed jointly by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center (San Antonio, USA) and OrthoAccel Technologies (Houston, TX, USA). Patients receive standard orthodontic treatment including any necessary extractions, and are fitted for braces at the orthodontic clinic. Once their braces are on, the patients are provided with an AcceleDent device, which they use at home. The patients are instructed to place the device in their mouth and bite down on it for a period of 20 minutes a day during the orthodontic treatment. While in the mouth, the device delivers a low-frequency pulsating vibration to the teeth; the vibration is not uncomfortable and is barely noticeable to the patient.

The researchers believe the vibratory forces, in combination with standard orthodontic treatment, enhance the metabolism in the alveolar bone tissue surrounding the teeth, thus allowing the teeth to move and straighten faster and more effectively. The device is currently undergoing investigational human trials, and will be available on a limited basis in the United Kingdom in late 2009.

"Teeth are surrounded by alveolar bone and are held in place by periodontal ligaments and gum tissue. These respond to applied orthodontic force, which allows for movement of the teeth through the bone," said Dubravko Pavlin, D.M.D., M.S.D., Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of orthodontics at the Health Science Center. "We believe the application of cyclic loading [controlled vibrations] will not only increase the rate of tooth movement, but will also create a solid foundation of bone and adjacent tissues in the mouth and result in more stable outcomes for orthodontic treatment."

Vibration therapy has been used in healthcare since the 1800s. More recently, scientists across the world have documented positive results using the therapy in patients with osteoporosis, muscle loss, and joint pain. In 2001, scientists at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA; Washington, DC, USA) reported that muscles atrophy relatively quickly and bones lose mass during prolonged exposures to weightlessness. Therefore, they suggested astronauts might prevent bone loss by standing on a lightly vibrating plate for 10 to 20 minutes each day while in orbit.

Related Links:
University of Texas Health Science Center
OrthoAccel Technologies
National Aeronautics and Space Administration