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

Abstract

This study presents a novel technique utilizing high-frequency vibration to shorten treatment time and preserve alveolar bone in challenging orthodontic cases that have been treated with Invisalign® clear aligners. Four non-growing orthodontic patients (age range 14–47 years old) with Class II skeletal patterns (convex profiles with retrognathic mandibles) who sought correction of their crowded teeth and non-surgical correction of their convex profiles were included in this study. These patients were treated using Invisalign clear aligners together with high-frequency vibration (HFV) devices (120 Hz) (VPro5™) that were used by all patients for five minutes per day during active orthodontic treatment. Vertical control and forward rotation of the mandible for each patient was achieved through pre-programming the Invisalign to produce posterior teeth intrusion. Successful forward rotation of the mandibles achieved in all patients led to improvement of their facial convex profiles (apical base relationship (ANB) improved 2.1 ± 0.5 degrees; FMA (Frankfurt mandibular plane angle) improved 1.2 + 1.1 degrees). Dental decompensation was achieved by lingual tipping of the lower incisors and palatal root torque of upper incisors. The use of HFV together with Invisalign facilitated achieving these results within a 12 ± 6 months period. In addition, more bone labial to the lower incisors after their lingual movement was noted. In conclusion, the use of HFV concurrent with SmartTrack Invisalign aligners allowed complex tooth movement and forward mandibular projection without surgery in non-growing patients with skeletal Class II relationships. The clinical impact and implications of this case series are: (1) the use of HFV facilitates complex orthodontic tooth movement including posterior teeth intrusion and incisor decompensation; (2) forward mandibular projection of the mandible and increased bone formation labial to lower incisors can be achieved in non-growing patients that may minimize the need for surgical intervention in similar cases or gum recession due to lower incisors labial inclination.

Do Vibrational Forces Induce an Anabolic Effect in the Alveolar Bone of Animal Models? A Systematic Review

“…Where each of the included articles was evaluated individually using the recommended criteria for good reporting practice. To obtain a percentage of 100%, the following requirements had to be met: (1) study design, (2) sample size, (3) inclusion and exclusion criteria, (4) randomization, (5) blinding, (6) outcome measures, (7) statistical methods, (8) experimental animals, (9) experimental procedures, (10) results, (11) summary, (12) background, (13) objectives, ( 14) an ethical statement, (15) housing and husbandry, ( 16) animal care and monitoring, (17) scientific interpretation/implication, (18) generalizability/translation, (19) protocol registration, (20) access to data, and ( 21) declaration of interests. Based on the above, the criteria reported in 100% of the articles were 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, and 18, followed by criteria 11, 13, and 16 in 88%; criterion 21 (declaration of interests) was met in 50% of the articles, while the lowest percentages were for criterion 13 with 13%, and with 38% criteria: 2, 4, 15, 19 and 20.…”

Factors Influencing Patient Compliance during Clear Aligner Therapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

“…Regularly changing aligners requires a high level of patient compliance [ 13 , 14 ]. Such compliance is further needed as they need to be worn near-permanently (minimum 22 h per day) [ 15 ].…”