Is Accelerated Orthodontics Right for You?

If you have been bothered by the appearance of your teeth but hesitant to put the time into traditional orthodontic treatment, accelerated orthodontics may be the solution for you.

Would you like to straighten your smile, but aren’t willing to commit to the time needed for traditional orthodontics.  If so, you may be interested to learn about a new concept in orthodontic treatment, known as accelerated orthodontics.  With accelerated orthodontics, you can accomplish the same smile enhancement goals in far less time than is needed for traditional orthodontics.

These days, roughly one in five orthodontic patients is an adult, and adult ortho patients have unique needs.  Accelerated orthodontics is especially appealing to adult patients, as treatment time can be shortened from two to four years to less than one year.

Accelerated orthodontics still uses braces to straighten a patient’s teeth.  Roughly a week after braces are applied, however, the patient will undergo a minor dental surgery procedure performed by a periodontist.  During this procedure, under local anesthesia, the gums and bones of the mouth are slightly altered to help the teeth to assume their proper places more quickly.  Patients who have undergone this procedure say it is no more uncomfortable than a regular dental cleaning.  One sensation that accelerated orthodontics patients experience that is different from traditional orthodontics is an itching sensation that occurs when the teeth move much more quickly than they do with traditional braces.

Apart from the initial surgical procedure, accelerated orthodontics uses the same methods as traditional orthodontics.  Patients may be fitted with any type of braces: metal , lingual, or ceramic.  Many adult patients prefer ceramic braces because they blend with the appearance of teeth and don’t stand out as much as metal braces do. Some patients may even be able to use lingual braces, which are applied to the backs of teeth so that they don’t show at all.  After accelerated orthodontics treatment, the patient will still need to wear a retainer to ensure that the teeth don’t shift positions once the braces are removed.

Accelerated orthodontics is appropriate in almost any case where traditional orthodontics may be used.  Even though treatment is shorter with accelerated orthodontics, the cost is roughly the same as traditional braces because several doctors are involved in the treatment.  The average accelerated orthodontics patient pays between $2,000 to $6,000 for treatment, and many orthodontics practices allow patients to use a payment plan.

If you have been bothered by the appearance of your teeth but hesitant to put the time into traditional orthodontic treatment, accelerated orthodontics may be the solution for you.  To get more information, speak with your dentist and ask for a referral to a trusted orthodontist, or visit the American Academy of Orthodonticswebsite.

Sources:
American Academy of Orthodontics
Everyday Health