What is the Cost of Accelerated Orthodontics?

Acceler\ated Orthodontics, also know as Wilkodontics or DDO (Dentoalveolar Distraction Osteogenesis) takes advantage of inflammation to induce greater ,and in many cases, faster tooth movement. Wilkodontics and DDO are different procedures in technique, but in general, produce similar results. This article will refer to DDO onlyl.
In certain groups of patients with more severe orthodontic problems, DDO may be indicated. The procedure has been shown to expedite the safe, rapid movement of teeth, and to shorten treatment time significantly. The other main benefit is the reduction in complications sometimes associated with orthodontics such as root resorption, bone loss, and relapse. The advent of this procedure has made it possible to potentially perform orthodontic treatment without extractions or major jaw surgery in more severe cases.
The surgery is an outpatient procedure, done in the office of an oral surgeon or other dental professional who is trained in the technique. The DDO technique involves incisions in the gums around the teeth and performing small bone cuts in the jaws along with the placement of synthetic bone grafts. The procedure takes between two to three hours and is considered minor periodontal plastic surgery. About ten days after the procedure, your orthodontist will instruct you on essential elastic wear necessary to facilitate tooth movement with DDO in a more accelerated fashion versus traditional orthodontics.
The cost of the procedure varies depending on the area of the country you live in, and the surgeon doing the procedure. Generally speaking, the procedure ranges from $2,000.00 to $6,000.00, which is considerably less expensive than traditional orthognathic surgery reserved to treat skeletal bite discrepancies. This cost may be further reduced if the paient has 3rd molars that need to be removed, as the anesthesia may then be covered by their dental insurance since the DDO may be performed at the same time as the extractions.