Can adults benefit from the procedure?
nowzari.jpgA. Accelerated orthodontics is gaining popularity as a way for patients, particularly adults with mature bones, to speed up the time it takes to straighten misaligned bites and fix crowded teeth. Researchers at the USC School of Dentistry say they have improved upon a surgical procedure that rapidly straightens teeth, delivering a healthy bite and attractive smile in months instead of years. Led by Hessam Nowzari, D.D.S., Ph.D., Director of the USC Advanced Periodontics program, the researchers have used used a procedure known as Periodontally Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics (PAOO). With this technique, a periodontist or oral surgeon uses special instruments to score the bone that holds the teeth in place and then applies bone graft material over those grooves. The procedure is done under local anesthetic in a dental office. As the bone begins to heal, it softens slightly, allowing teeth to be moved into alignment with dental braces in a matter of months, rather than the
