Effect of high-frequency vibration on orthodontic tooth movement and bone density

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Previous reports have shown that high-frequency vibration can increase bone remodeling and accelerate tooth movement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high-frequency vibration on treatment phase tooth movement, and post-treatment bone density at initiation of retention, with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with initial Class I skeletal relationships, initial minimum-moderate crowding (3–5 mm), treated to completion with clear aligners and adjunctive high-frequency vibration, (HFV group) or no vibration, (Control group) were evaluated. The patients were instructed to change aligners as soon as they become loose. Changes in bone density associated with orthodontic treatment were evaluated using i-CAT cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and InVivo Anatomage ® software to quantify density using Hounsfield units (HU) between treated teeth in 10 different regions. HU values were averaged and compared against baseline (T1) and between the groups at initiation of retention (T2). RESULTS: The average time for aligner change was 5.2 days in the HFV group, and 8.7 days in the control group ( P = 0.0001). There was significant T1 to T2 increase of HU values in the upper arch ( P = 0.0001) and the lower arch ( P = 0.008) in the HFV group. There was no significant change in average HU values in the upper ( P = 0.83) or lower arches ( P = 0.33) in the control group. The intergroup comparison revealed a significant difference in the upper, ( P = 0.0001) and lower arches ( P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: High-frequency vibration adjunctive to clear aligners, allowed early aligner changes that led to shorter treatment time in minimum-moderate crowded cases. At initiation of retention, the HFV group demonstrated statistically significant increase as compared with pre-treatment bone density, whereas control subjects showed no significant change from pre-treatment bone density.

The Effect of High-Frequency Vibration on Tooth Movement and Alveolar Bone in Non-Growing Skeletal Class II High Angle Orthodontic Patients: Case Series

“…The relatively faster treatment in the presented cases in this report could be due to the reported scientific evidence that HFV enhances bone resorption during orthodontic treatment as well as bone deposition. This agrees with previous reports [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In addition, the appearance of bone labial to lower incisors after moving them lingually in almost all cases supports the stimulatory effect of HFV on bone formation.…”

“…Photobiomodulation as well as low-frequency vibration and low intensity pulsed ultrasound require longer daily treatment times of 10-20 minutes [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]. Additionally, HFV has been previously shown to accelerate orthodontic treatment especially with clear aligners due to the proposed hypothesis that HFV helps seat clear aligners and encourages high patient compliance [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In addition, it helps with osteoblastic/osteoclastic activities within the alveolar bone as well as increased bone density during passive force or in the absence of static force [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…Additionally, HFV has been previously shown to accelerate orthodontic treatment especially with clear aligners due to the proposed hypothesis that HFV helps seat clear aligners and encourages high patient compliance [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In addition, it helps with osteoblastic/osteoclastic activities within the alveolar bone as well as increased bone density during passive force or in the absence of static force [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. It is of particular importance to note that adult or non-growing patients would need relatively longer treatment time than growing individuals [ 27 ].…”

“…It has been shown to enhance both osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities as well as increase bone density in both animal and human patients [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. It has been suggested that the effectiveness of HFV in accelerating tooth movement is due to its enhancement of bone remodeling [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. A recent study showed that HFV has an additive effect on PGE2 and RANKL on human periodontal ligament cells [ 21 ].…”

“…In addition, a recent study shows that HFV induced differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells by increasing Col-I, Runx2, and Osterix growth factors [ 22 ]. Previous reports showed simple-to-moderate orthodontic cases treated by HFV or other accelerating techniques [ 16 , 17 ]. The aim of this study was to report on the effect of using HFV and Invisalign aligners on patients’ profiles with hyperdivergent mandibles in non-growing skeletal Class II cases.…”