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.