From our blog

What is AcceleDent®?

Acceledent

AcceleDent is a ‘vibratory orthodontic device’ that claims to speed up brace treatment using vibrations known as micropulses. It does this through a mouthpiece, which you fit over your fixed brace or Invisalign aligners for 20 minutes each day.

The theory is that the vibrations transmit through your teeth to the surrounding bone, increasing cellular activity and accelerating tooth movement. Sounds good, but how well does it work?

Is AcceleDent® effective?

AcceleDent is well marketed, but some orthodontists are sceptical, and trials have done little to support claims of faster treatment.

In a recent narrative review, a team from Saudi Arabia and Seattle looked at the ‘effects of vibrational devices on orthodontic tooth movement’. They reviewed five studies – four of which concluded that vibrating teeth did not affect tooth movement. The remaining study was judged to be poor quality with a conflict of interest.

With a lack of credible evidence to support vibratory products such as AcceleDent, we wouldn’t recommend them to our patients at this stage. Especially when you consider the cost, which can be hundreds of pounds.

How can we speed up tooth movement?

There are a few other methods out there that claim to speed up tooth movement, including photobiomodulation, piezocision and corticotomy. Again, the research isn’t conclusive, so if you’re considering any of these treatments you should carefully weigh up the costs and benefits.

Speedier orthodontic treatment is undoubtedly appealing, but braces need time to work their magic – the results should be more than worth the wait. Our average treatment time is 12 months, which flies by surprising quickly. We also find that once patients adapt to their braces, they are less concerned about the length of their treatment.

If it’s wearing a visible brace that concerns you, you may not have to. Lingual braces and Invisalign are particularly discreet options. Lingual braces are tucked away behind your teeth, out of sight; while Invisalign straightens teeth using clear, removable aligners.

What about fast braces?

There are a group of orthodontic appliances known as ‘fast braces’ or ‘short-term braces’. You might assume that they straighten teeth like regular braces, only faster. However, they’re actually designed to straighten only the front teeth.

So, if you’re looking to improve the appearance of your front teeth, and not the way your teeth bite together, they can be a good option. Treatment can be completed in less than six months in some cases.

To explore your options and find out how long your orthodontic treatment could take, visit us for a free no-obligation consultation.

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