Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy

What is Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy?

Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy (SFOT) is an accelerated orthodontics option designed to reduce orthodontic treatment time by combining surgical procedures with traditional braces or clear aligners. Whether you have misaligned teeth from genetics, jaw size discrepancies, childhood habits like thumb-sucking, or early loss of baby teeth, this approach helps to accelerate your bone remodeling, allowing you to experience straighter teeth faster and spend less time in orthodontic treatment.

The specifics of the procedure will depend on the degree of misalignment and other individual factors, offering an effective solution for those looking for faster orthodontic treatment but the key components are:

• Corticotomy: A surgical procedure where perforations are made in the bone around the teeth. This stimulates bone remodeling and makes the bone more pliable, facilitating faster tooth movement.
• Bone Grafting: Bone grafts are added to areas where bone density is low or where more bone is needed to support the teeth during orthodontic treatment.
• Orthodontic Appliances: Traditional braces or clear aligners are used in conjunction with the surgical procedures to guide the teeth into their correct positions.

5 Benefits of Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy from East Bay Periodontics

By combining surgical techniques with traditional orthodontics, SFOT offers several key benefits that improve overall orthodontic treatment outcomes. These benefits include faster treatment times, improved periodontal health, and better management of complex cases, all while ensuring greater stability and comfort throughout the process. Below are five significant advantages of choosing SFOT for your orthodontic needs.

1. Faster Treatment Times
   SFOT can significantly accelerate tooth movement. This allows for shorter overall treatment times compared to traditional orthodontics alone.
2. Protects Your Aesthetics and Your Bone
   SFOT enables significant adjustments in tooth and jaw alignment while preserving natural bone structure and preventing gum recession. This ensures a healthier, more aesthetic, and more stable foundation for your teeth.
3. Enhanced Periodontal Health
   The surgery involved in SFOT often includes procedures that can improve the health of the gums and bone around the teeth.
4. Better Management of Complex Tooth Misalignment Cases
   SFOT effectively manages complex orthodontic cases that traditional braces or clear aligners alone cannot address or could only be accomplished by jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery).
5. Increased Stability of Teeth Movement
   By modifying the bone structure, SFOT can help ensure that the results of orthodontic treatment are more stable and less likely to relapse, and avoid the need for gum grafting after orthodontic treatment is completed.

Is Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy Right for Me?

To determine if Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy in East Bay is right for you, consider your orthodontic goals, the severity of your dental misalignment, and your desire to reduce treatment time. Our SFOT procedure is ideal for patients looking for faster ways to fix crooked teeth or speed up braces treatment, especially if traditional methods alone may not achieve the desired results in a shorter time frame.

What to Expect During the SFOT Procedure

During the Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy procedure here in Oakland, you can expect a combination of orthodontic treatment and surgical intervention. The process typically begins with the placement of braces or clear aligners, followed by a surgical procedure that enhances bone remodeling around the teeth. This surgery aims to accelerate tooth movement, allowing for faster orthodontic treatment.

Post-surgery, your orthodontist will continue to adjust your braces or aligners as needed, with follow-up visits to monitor your progress. The entire experience is tailored to shorten the time with braces or aligners while ensuring the most effective outcome for your specific needs.

SFOT FAQs

What causes teeth to be misaligned, and how can SFOT help?

Teeth can become misaligned due to various factors such as genetics, jaw size, habits like thumb-sucking, or premature loss of baby teeth. SFOT helps by not only correcting the alignment through orthodontic treatment but also by accelerating the process with a surgical procedure. This approach enhances bone remodeling, allowing teeth to move more quickly into their correct positions, effectively addressing the root causes of misalignment in a shorter time.

How does Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy (SFOT) speed up orthodontic treatment?
SFOT speeds up braces treatment by combining orthodontic appliances with a surgical procedure that stimulates bone remodeling around the teeth, allowing them to move more quickly into the desired positions. This process can significantly reduce the overall time needed to straighten teeth.

Is SFOT a painful procedure?
SFOT is a surgical procedure in which you can expect some swelling, discomfort, and sometimes bruising. Most patients experience mild to moderate discomfort during the recovery period. Pain management is typically handled with over-the-counter pain relievers, and any discomfort usually subsides within 5-7 days after the procedure. In some cases, we prescribe stronger medication for pain relief or steroids to control swelling.

Who is a good candidate for SFOT?
SFOT is ideal for individuals seeking faster ways to straighten teeth, particularly those with moderate to severe misalignment or those looking to reduce the overall time spent in braces. Candidates should be in good oral health and willing to undergo a surgical procedure as part of their orthodontic treatment plan. This is a collaborative procedure with your orthodontist and should be planned accordingly.