Methods of accelerating orthodontic tooth movement: A review of contemporary literature

Technological progress and the introduction of modern therapeutic methods are constantly changing contemporary orthodontics. More and more orthodontic patients are working adults, who expect satisfactory therapeutic effects as soon as possible, increasing the importance of methods accelerating tooth movement. The aim of this study was to review the current literature regarding methods of accelerating tooth movement and reducing the duration of the active phase of therapy. The literature was collected from the PubMed and EBSCO databases using "accelerated orthodontic tooth movement" as the search key words. The methods described were categorized as conservative and surgical. The pharmacological agents used in conservative treatment, such as growth hormone, parathyroid hormone, thyroxine, and vitamin D, are especially worth mentioning. They stimulate osteoclasts to increase resorption through a variety of mechanisms. Effective methods also include physical stimuli, e.g., vibrations or photobiomodulation. Most studies describing the effects of pharmacological agents were based on animal subjects and they may therefore lack clinical relevancy. Corticotomy and its modifications based on the regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP) might prove to be a useful augmentation of orthodontic treatment, especially in adults, including patients with periodontal disease.