The efficacy of the Byte nighttime aligner program.
June 23, 2020
Have you been considering our Byte At-Night aligners? We upped our game with this new aligner offering to give you the ultimate flexibility for discrete at-home straightening, while you sleep. We asked Dr. Marashi to hit us with some cold hard science and insight on how it works.
Dr. Jon Marashi, DDS
Chief Cosmetic Dentist at Byte
Setting you straight.
Byte nighttime aligners are dentist prescribed orthodontic aligners designed to move teeth with less than full time wear. A network of licensed orthodontists, approves and then monitors the program for each user. The aligner system uses high frequency vibrations (HFV), high quality aligner material, varying tooth movement velocities, and the favorable physiology of nighttime tooth movement to be successful. The high frequency vibrations are provided through the proprietary HyperByte® tool. Patients adhering to this program are instructed to wear the aligners for at least 10 continuous hours, but are highly encouraged to wear for more than 10 continuous hours if their schedule permits. For example, encouraged use would include only removing the aligners to attend work or school, and leaving them in place the rest of the time.
For decades, orthodontists have been using part-time wear appliances to successfully straighten patients’ teeth. Common examples of part-time wear appliances include headgear, orthodontic face masks, reverse pull headgear, the Andresen appliance, the bionator, the twin block appliance, spring aligners, and spring retainers.
Recent research on sleep apnea appliances has conclusively shown that teeth will orthodontically move with only part-time wear of an oral appliance. The orthodontic tooth movements recorded in the adults in this study demonstrate that teeth will move if oral devices are used for less than ten hours. These studies did not include the acceleration of tooth movement that Hyperbyte provides.
In order for teeth to move orthodontically, the bone around the roots of the teeth must be remodeled. The term remodeling can describe bone resorption (the taking away of bone), and bone apposition (the adding of new bone). This is a complex physiological process involving multiple cells, hormones, and proteins. It has been shown that many of these physiological processes are most active when we are sleeping. (Too much information).Bone turnover markers (BTMs) are used to determine the overall activity of bone remodeling. These BTMs have a clear day/night pattern in humans. Markers of bone resorption and, to a lesser degree, bone formation, increase overnight. There is a peak in the early morning hours (a time period of predominantly REM sleep) and a low point in the late afternoon.
Picking up good vibrations.
In addition, the utilization of high frequency vibrations (HFV) has shown to drastically speed up tooth movement. The HyperByte device that delivers HFV to the teeth and surrounding bone has been shown to be very safe and effective. The tool activates osteoblast cell activity as well as increases several bone growth markers. This favorable physiological response to HFV allows for tooth movement to occur with less than full time wear of the aligners.
What it all means.
In summary, night time clear aligner treatment, in conjunction with high frequency vibration is a great treatment option for people looking to improve their smile. It provides dentist supervised treatment, blending the latest technology with sound orthodontic principles.
References:
- https://sleep-doctor.com/blog/oral-appliances-for-snoring-or-sleep-apnea-have-important-potential-dental-side-effects/
- https://www.livescience.com/53769-how-much-sleep-adults-get-by-state.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3939802/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5994176/
- https://asbmr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jbmr.2446
- Nishimura et. al. Periodontal tissue activation by vibration: Intermittent stimulation by resonance vibration accelerates experimental tooth movement in rats. 2008. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 133(4) pp. 572-583.
- Vij K. and Mao, JJ. Geometry and cell density of rat craniofacial sutures during early postnatal development and upon in-vivo cyclic loading. 2006. Bone (38) pp. 722-730.
- Alikhani, M., et al., “Osteogenic Effect of High-frequency Acceleration on Alveolar Bone,” J.D.R. 91: 413 (2012).