Propel in Orthodontics: All About Propel and How it Works

Technology has significantly affected orthodontic treatment and all that concern oral health. With more people working to improve their dental care routine, experts in oral health are taking up new technologies and innovation to better dental care. Every technological innovation in this industry is geared toward accelerating oral health and dental treatment. Learn here about propel orthodontics and how it works in dental care.

What is propel?

In orthodontic treatment, propel is an orthodontic device that is used in the remodeling of teeth for faster and better results. Most people hold back from getting traditional braces because the treatment can take a lot of time before the results are achieved. Thankfully, technology has intervened to shorten the treatment period of teeth alignment, converse to using other methods like braces and Invisalign®.

Using propels not only guarantees patients a quick treatment, but also one that is as painless as possible. The propel device can be used alongside other teeth alignment treatments like Invisalign or braces. It is considered one of the safest methods to treat misaligned teeth and improve patients’ smiles.

How does propel work?

Propel are meant to accelerate the shifting of teeth in the correct position to correct your bite and improve overall aesthetic appearance. During the dental exam, the orthodontist will take x-rays of your teeth to examine your bone structure as well as the dental gaps between your teeth. The orthodontist might even check again through physical feeling to establish the state of your bone structure. From here, local anesthesia can be used to reduce any discomfort you might feel during the procedure.

A propel is then used to drill a hole in your gum, right through to the underlying bone. The holes are made on the tooth or teeth that need to be moved to correct the bite. Depending on the severity of the misalignment, the orthodontist will drill between 1 and 3 holes on the sides of the target tooth. The holes are referred to as micro osteo-perforations.

The holes made to your bone cause your teeth to loosen a little because the bones supporting the teeth are broken down. The breakdown is followed by reabsorption and rebuilding of the bones. This process is called remodeling. As the bones are remodeling, the teeth can move. Bone production then begins to happen, to fill the space of the broken ones.

The perforations made on your bones speed up the bone production to promote shifting of the teeth. The process is even faster on young people since their bone growth is still active. This means that teens, children, and young adults will have faster results from this treatment that older people.

What are the benefits of propel?

Other than being very effective in dental treatment, there are several benefits you should consider:

• Propels can reduce the teeth-alignment treatment period even by half. Instead of wearing braces for a year or more, you can enjoy your results quicker with propel orthodontics.
• Propels stimulate bone production which makes the shifting of teeth faster and more efficient.
• Faster healing – straightening your teeth is a process that requires a long duration to fully heal. With propel, healing is faster. You will not even be needing time off after your procedure. You can resume your normal daily routine soon after the process.
• Few procedures are required – depending on the severity of your dental misalignment, you may need one propel procedure, or a few more. Since the process is not painful and no recovery time is needed, you are always good to go.

Propel treatment aftercare

There are a few things you should do to ensure you maintain the results of the procedure, among them:

• Avoid anti-inflammatory pain medication

For most dental procedures, your dentist may prescribe some Aspirin or Ibuprofen to help with the pain and swelling. However, with propel, the inflammation works to speed up the treatment. The whole process of propel treatment is controlled by the cells in the surrounding tissue of the target tooth. Some of the cells include those that cause inflammation. Besides, the sensitivity on your tooth will disappear within one or two days.

• Use undiluted hydrogen peroxide

Keeping your mouth clean and free from bacteria is pretty useful after the procedure. Consider gaggling some undiluted hydrogen peroxide once or twice in a day. This will help disinfect your mouth.

• Avoid spicy foods

Spices and acidic foods can make you very uncomfortable, especially in the initial days after your treatment. Avoid all spicy foods, as well as foods with citric acid, including lemons, oranges, limes, and such-like juices.