One of the more daunting things about straightening your smile or addressing a TMJ disorder with orthodontics is the time it takes to do so. A braces treatment can take two years or more to complete, and while Invisalign can cut that time in half for some, both options are still quite the commitment.
What if you could speed up your orthodontic treatment? That’s exactly what OrthoPulse® sets out to do! Here’s how it works.
Light Therapy Basics
OrthoPulse® utilizes principles of light therapy, a relatively new technique that has quickly taken the medical and wellness fields by storm. So to understand how OrthoPulse® is able to speed up orthodontic treatments, it’s important to know a few light therapy basics:
- Certain light waves (like those emitted by near-infrared and red-light) have been found to stimulate cells, improve circulation, and promote the body’s natural healing process.
- The process is noninvasive and simply involves exposing targeted areas to specific types of light.
- Different types of light seem to have different effects. They can be used to treat pain, help injured muscles recover, and rejuvenate the skin.
Near-Infrared Light VS. Red-Light
Red-light therapy is one of the most popular types of light therapy, especially for over-the-counter products. However, red-light is only able to reach surface-level tissue. This makes it well-suited for skin treatments, but not treatments that involve the muscles or bone like orthodontics.
This is where OrthoPulse® really stands out. It uses near-infrared light, which is able to stimulate those “deeper level” cells. When patients put the OrthoPulse® aligner in their mouth, the near-infrared light encourages the jawbone, teeth, ligaments, and other supportive oral tissue to grow and heal. As a result, the teeth and jawbone are able to move and shift into their ideal positions much faster than they would otherwise.
Does OrthoPulse® Actually Work?
It might sound too good to be true, but OrthoPulse® and other devices like it really do work! Multiple studies show that OrthoPulse® can help patients complete their braces or clear aligner treatments 50% faster. Not only that, but the near-infrared light also reduces discomfort and promotes recovery.
If the thought of a lengthy treatment timeline held you back from straightening your smile or addressing TMJ pain, ask your dentist about OrthoPulse®. It could provide the lightning-quick solution you were looking for!
About the Author
Dr. Russell Teasdale has over 40 years of experience in dentistry, and is a Fellow of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) and the Institute for Minimally Invasive Dentistry. He’s passionate about keeping up with the latest dental innovations, like OrthoPulse®. If you’re interested in reducing your Invisalign or braces treatment timeline, contact Dr. Teasdale’s office at 503-974-3829.