Want to Finish Orthodontic Treatment Faster? Daechi-dong Orthodontic Clinic Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic

How can orthodontic treatment be finished faster?

Finishing orthodontic treatment faster

Hello. I’m Yoon Jeongwon, chief director of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, an orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong.

When providing orthodontic care, I often get questions like these from patients.

"If I come in more often for monthly visits, will my orthodontic treatment finish faster?"

"Last month, I got treatment and didn’t feel any pain at all. I want my braces treatment to finish quickly, so please tighten the rubber bands more!"

To answer this, we first need to explain how teeth move within the jawbone.

Principles of orthodontic tooth movement

Teeth may seem firmly embedded in the jawbone (alveolar bone), but in reality, they are not completely attached to the bone.

You can think of the tooth roots as being embedded in the bone while wrapped in a membrane called the periodontal ligament.

This periodontal ligament connects the teeth and the alveolar bone, and when we apply chewing force, it acts like a cushion that disperses the impact.

To move teeth in the direction we want, we need to apply "light force continuously."

Then, one side of the periodontal ligament becomes compressed, while the other side becomes stretched. This periodontal ligament contains blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the surrounding cells.

When orthodontic force compresses the periodontal ligament, the blood vessels are compressed as well and the oxygen partial pressure drops. The surrounding cells respond by sending chemical signals, which cause osteoclasts (cells that destroy bone) to differentiate. These osteoclasts dissolve the alveolar bone on the compressed side, allowing the tooth to move forward.

Conversely, on the side where the periodontal ligament has been stretched, osteoblasts (cells that build bone) differentiate and fill in the space between the stretched tooth and the alveolar bone with new alveolar bone. This allows the periodontal ligament to return to its original length and helps maintain a consistent gap between the tooth and the alveolar bone.

In conclusion, the reason teeth can move in the firm alveolar bone is a biological response in which teeth react to an "appropriate" amount of force, causing remodeling of the alveolar bone around them.

If stronger force is used during orthodontic treatment, does it finish faster?

The answer is NO

Unfortunately, teeth show the best movement with appropriate orthodontic force. Excessive orthodontic force creates unnecessary inflammation in the tissues around the teeth, which slows tooth movement and may later cause side effects such as root resorption, inflammation of the tooth nerve, and discoloration of the tooth.

Also, when closing extraction spaces, if a force stronger than necessary is applied to the teeth, it can cause the front teeth to tip forward like protruding teeth. After tooth movement is complete, treatment time increases because those tipped teeth then need to be corrected. In other words, excessive orthodontic force only increases the risk of side effects.

If you visit the dentist more often, will orthodontic treatment finish faster?

Sadly, the answer is NO

Orthodontic treatment requires enough time for osteoblasts and osteoclasts to remodel the shape of the bone, so patients generally visit the clinic about once a month for treatment. This allows time for bone to be formed on the side where the periodontal ligament has been stretched. If you keep coming in frequently and continuously move the teeth with strong force, the balance between bone resorption and bone formation is disrupted, which can lead to side effects.

So, is there really no way to finish orthodontic treatment faster?

1. Keep your appointments well!

After a tooth has moved in the desired direction, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to prepare for movement again. Follow-up appointments are scheduled accordingly. If you do not come in on time and go a long time without monthly visits, tooth movement will not proceed as planned, and the orthodontic treatment period will become longer.

2. Be careful not to break your orthodontic appliance!

The main reason brackets come off is eating habits. If you frequently eat hard or chewy foods, brackets can easily come off because of the food. Appliances can also come off due to habits such as clenching your teeth tightly or grinding your teeth.

If an orthodontic appliance comes off, the teeth tend to return to their original positions, causing the alignment to shift. Therefore, it is best to visit the clinic as soon as possible and have the appliance reattached. This is because when an orthodontic appliance comes off, teeth have the tendency to return to their original position. If the alignment becomes distorted, treatment must proceed to realign the teeth again, such as returning to a thinner wire from an earlier stage, which lengthens the overall treatment period.

3. Wear orthodontic rubber bands diligently!

During orthodontic treatment, elastic rubber bands are worn to adjust the bite and center line. Naturally, treatment outcomes will differ between patients who wear their rubber bands for most of the day and those who wear them only 2 to 3 hours a day. If you do not wear the rubber bands diligently, the period needed to correct the bite becomes longer, which also lengthens the treatment.

4. Brush your teeth diligently!

Once orthodontic appliances are attached, it is not easy to keep your teeth completely clean. On the first day the appliance is attached, the clinic explains how to manage oral hygiene after appliance placement. You should brush your teeth using the methods you were taught and maintain proper care so that cavities or periodontal disease do not develop during orthodontic treatment.

If cavities develop during orthodontic treatment, there may be cases where the appliance must be removed and treatment carried out while dental work is being done. In that case, orthodontic treatment cannot proceed properly for that period, so naturally the treatment time becomes longer. Therefore, proper oral hygiene management is essential if you want to finish orthodontic treatment sooner.

Wearing orthodontic rubber bands

If you are choosing a dental clinic for orthodontic treatment, we recommend receiving treatment from a doctor with plenty of experience.

Chief Director Yoon Jeongwon of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic has devoted more than 16 years to orthodontic care and has treated more than 6,000 different orthodontic cases so far. She is an orthodontic specialist and Doctor of Dental Medicine from Yonsei University Dental Hospital, and also serves as an adjunct professor. Since she is the chief director, she is always on-site at the clinic, so there is no situation where the doctor in charge changes midway, allowing you to receive treatment with peace of mind. Another advantage is that appointments are more flexible and emergency situations can be handled more effectively.

With her long experience in orthodontic care, she has also handled many high-difficulty cases in which patients were told at other clinics that jaw surgery was needed, but treatment was possible through non-surgical orthodontics. That means patients seeking orthodontic treatment can receive good care in any case.

Chief Director Yoon Jeongwon of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic

In addition, because Dr. An Ji-ho, a prosthodontic specialist who handles general dentistry, is on staff, there is the advantage that all treatment can be completed in one place at Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic without the inconvenience of visiting another clinic for dental care that may be needed during orthodontic treatment, such as extractions or cavity treatment. In this way, all necessary care for orthodontic treatment can be handled in one location, providing a high level of care.

In terms of facilities, the clinic has a systematic seven-step diagnostic system using the latest equipment, including a Panoramic X-ray, low-radiation 3D CBCT, iTero Lumina 3D oral scanning, before-and-after simulation through Morpheus 3D imaging, and VUNO Med®-BoneAge™ (growth plate testing) to determine the timing of orthodontic treatment based on a child’s growth.

Furthermore, Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic sterilizes the instruments used during treatment and uses sterile treatment water through the Novacare system, so there is no need to worry about the water used during treatment. It also maintains a pleasant indoor environment with an efficient air circulation system using an energy recovery ventilator and a safe air purification system using dual filters (HEPA filter and pre-filter).

If you are considering orthodontic treatment, do not delay any longer. Feel free to contact Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, and we will provide a detailed consultation. Orthodontic treatment at Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic includes the cost of precision diagnosis and monthly visits (however, the cost of retainers is excluded), so you do not need to worry about additional expenses. In addition, since we also have a general dentistry department, all necessary orthodontic procedures such as extractions and cavity treatment can be done in one place, and we also offer an installment payment plan to reduce the burden of paying a large sum at once, making it even more appealing.

If you visit Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, a specialized orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong, you can accurately understand your current condition through a simple oral examination at no additional cost, and you can also receive explanations about various orthodontic appliances used in treatment. We encourage you to call or visit for a consultation without hesitation.

During the consultation, you can compare different appliances such as Clarity, Clippy C, and Invisalign with your own eyes and receive detailed explanations of their pros and cons, so we recommend contacting us by phone or visiting for a consultation without 부담.

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic is close to Samseong Station, Hakyeoul Station, Daechi Station, and Hanti Station, making it very convenient for visitors from Samseong-dong, Daechi-dong, Gaepo-dong, Dogok-dong, Irwon-dong, Yeoksam-dong, and Jamsil.

Next to BMW at the intersection by Woosung Apartments in Daechi-dong

(Opposite Starbucks / Samsung Store)

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, an orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong, offers convenient and free parking.

Consultation and inquiries: 02-501-2879