Periodontal And Orthodontic Treatment

What is AOO?

Accelerated osteogenic orthodontics is an exciting new method that reduces orthodontic treatment times to around 3-8 months. With conventional methods, patients wear braces for up to 3 years to correct teeth alignment. The AOO method consists of a combination of time-tested techniques from both orthodontics and periodontics and serves as a practical orthodontic solution for patients of all ages. The AOO procedure was first introduced in 1998 at the annual session of the American Association of Orthodontics.

How Does AOO Work?

AOO focuses on how the bone responds to orthodontic forces as opposed to how to apply that force to the teeth. Traditional orthodontic relies on metallurgy and chemistry by applying force to the crowns of the teeth to move them, ignoring the potential of bone physiology. Using this process, it takes between 18-36 months for the teeth to move. The exact time wearing braces is dependent on how far the teeth must move and the techniques employed to trigger the shifts.

AOO introduces an outpatient decortication surgery to induce bone healing that works in favor of the orthodontic treatment. It’s the same braces, but because the bone is put in a state of healing, it allows for rapid tooth movement. The bone is softer, so the force on the teeth is more effective. Once in place, the bone hardens around the teeth in their new location and continues to rebuild to accommodate the new architecture. The fast and positive results are well documented.

What are the benefits of AOO?

AOO means faster and shorter orthodontic treatments. The method combines traditional orthodontic treatment with a periodontal surgical procedure that changes the hard bone to young bone that’s more flexible, so the teeth move faster.

The benefits include:

• Shorter treatment duration
• Enhanced long-term stability
• Less root resorption
• Better anchorage

Patients require fewer extractions with the AOO method and less painful adjustments, too. That means less time at the dentist’s office getting treatments. While not every patient is a candidate for AOO, it’s something worth considering if you need orthodontic treatment.