Abstract

In today’s quick paced time and age, the duration of orthodontic treatment has become a primary concern for most patients seeking the treatment. As clinicians too, concerns arose regarding the long term disadvantages of conventional orthodontic treatment like predisposing the patient to caries, gingival recession and resorption of roots. Therefore, the need for a faster treatment with least possible disadvantages arose. Orthodontic treatment involves the response of the tissues surrounding the tooth on which the force is being applied that happens on a chemical, cellular and mechanical level. So to enhance the body’s response to these orthodontic forces, various ways were found to accelerate the treatment. This article reviews the biology of tooth movement and discusses various methods like surgical methods-osteotomy and corticotomy and physical methods like low level lasers, direct electric current effect and their promising results along with their limitations.

Keywords: Accelerated tooth movement; Corticotomy; Osteotomy; Low level laser therapy; Piezocision; Direct electric current