Most of us love the idea of having a healthy, straight smile, but aren’t especially fond of the time and treatment it can take to achieve it. Whether it’s six months or three years, the idea of being in braces for a while can sometimes be enough to scare patients off, no matter how many benefits orthodontic treatment may hold for them. For teens especially, wearing braces through such a significant time in their lives can be a tough pill to swallow.

Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can speed up your treatment! Here at Bret Johnson Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer accelerated orthodontics treatments, like PROPEL orthodontics. This is one of the best, and easiest, ways to improve the effectiveness of your braces.

But what exactly is PROPEL? How does it work and what does it do?

Before we find out, let’s remind ourselves of how orthodontic treatment moves teeth, and look at how PROPEL can affect that.

How do teeth move in orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontics are able to move teeth through careful manipulation of force. This guides the teeth into new, improved positions. The light, constant force applied to the teeth allows them to move in a predictable manner and direction, which is important because this is how we can track and direct the process. Leading up to the actual movement of teeth, there is a resorption of bone on the compression side of the periodontal ligament, and a deposit of new bone on the tension side.

With braces, this force is applied to the teeth by small brackets that are rigidly attached to the crowns of the teeth, through which arch wires pass. These wires apply controlled force and cause the teeth to move into their desired positions. Teeth can also be moved using removable orthodontic appliances, such as the clear aligners that are a part of the Invisalign system.

How does PROPEL affect the way teeth move?

PROPEL devices cause what’s called “micro-osteoperforations” which in turn create a localized inflammation response. Increased blood flow and cytokine expression are a part of this response. By increasing both blood flow and cytokines in the areas you want to see movement, the bone remodeling activity increases, which means the rate at which the teeth move is also increased.

Over the last twenty years or so, there have been some major improvements in orthodontic technology. These have made treatment more efficient (and also less obvious!), but not necessarily faster. PROPEL has the ability to change that.

The basics of PROPEL

As mentioned above, PROPEL works by stimulating the bone around your teeth, helping the teeth to move faster and more predictably to their ideal locations. Essentially, PROPEL helps your teeth shift, and the surrounding tissues heal faster than they would with orthodontic treatment on its own. It not only can mean less time in braces, but also less time in our office because PROPEL can mean fewer visits.

PROPEL is done in our office (and sometimes at home.) It doesn’t require any invasive procedures, treatment is comfortable, and there’s no recovery time. Nearly 80% of orthodontic patients can use PROPEL, and it can be used in conjunction with traditional metal braces, clear braces, and clear aligners.

It is important to note that the PROPEL only works when it’s used alongside regular orthodontic treatment, because the braces or aligners are what will provide the actual force necessary to correct any teeth and jaw irregularities.

The benefits of PROPEL

Some of the main advantages of the PROPEL system are:

• Decreased treatment times by up to 50% for many patients
• Less time in braces or Invisalign® aligners (which translates to less time in our office!)
• It’s a non-invasive alternative to orthodontic surgery
• It’s a safe, well-tolerated treatment option for a wide range of patients
• PROPEL is available to both adolescent and adult patients
• It’s compatible with most types of braces

The patented PROPEL devices have a variety of innovative features that benefit both patient and orthodontist. These include:

• LED Depth Stop Indicator, which lights up when the set depth length is reached, minimizing the potential for errors
• Micro edge with a patented pitch for extra precision
• Surgical steel construction with state-of-the-art, professional design.
• Packaged and reusable for peace of mind that each procedure will have maximum efficiency
• Ergonomic design that gives your orthodontist ultimate control

Am I a good candidate for PROPEL?

Although PROPEL is easily integrated into braces or Invisalign treatment plans for most patients, the best way to find out if it’s right for you is to schedule a consultation with us.

Other ways you can help accelerate your orthodontic treatment

There are some small steps you can take along with PROPEL to further speed up your treatment, such as:

• Avoiding hard and chewy foods that can bend wires and snap off brackets.
• Use elastics correctly – elastics are designed to help improve your bite, and will only be effective if you commit to wearing them as directed.
• Keep your appointments and be on time – the more appointments you miss, the longer your treatment will take!
• Keep your teeth clean by adopting a good oral hygiene routine – remember, a healthy mouth will respond better to treatment than an unhealthy one.

Orthodontic treatment doesn’t have to take forever! By following your orthodontist’s recommendations, following the tips above, and using an accelerated treatment system like PROPEL, you could see your treatment duration significantly reduced.

Faster treatment and results with Bret Johnson Orthodontics

We offer PROPEL for patients who are looking for an effective way to accelerate their orthodontic treatment. Because it works with both traditional metal braces and Invisalign, as well as clear braces, most patients will be able to enjoy faster, more comfortable bite correction. Our talented team is devoted to giving you a fun, friendly orthodontic experience, and we’re able to create beautiful smiles by using cutting edge technology and state-of-the-art orthodontic equipment and treatments, like PROPEL.

If you’re an orthodontic patient in the Spokane or Colville areas, and would like more information on how PROPEL could help shorten your overall treatment time, get in touch with us today! We’re happy to schedule a complimentary consultation for you to find out if you’d be a good candidate for the system. We look forward to helping your smile shine!