Method and apparatus for tooth regulation with heavy forces

Abstract

Methods are provided for regulating tooth movement and for maintaining or improving tissue health using heavy forces. Such methods comprise allowing a heavy force to be exerted on one or more teeth of a patient in need thereof; and administering an effective amount of light to the maxillary or mandibular alveolar bone of the patient, wherein the light is administered before, during, or after the heavy force is exerted. The light can have a wavelength in the range of about 585 nm to about 665 nm, or about 815 nm to about 895 nm. An apparatus useful for providing light therapy is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing or preventing tooth root resorption caused by orthodontic treatment with an orthodontic appliance, comprising:
 exerting, using an orthodontic appliance, a force on a tooth of a subject undergoing orthodontic treatment with the orthodontic appliance and in need of reduction or prevention of tooth root resorption; and   administering, via a light-therapy apparatus, light to soft tissue supporting the tooth, wherein the light has a wavelength ranging from about 620 nm to about 1000 nm and an intensity ranging from about 1 mW/cm 2  to about 10 W/cm 2 .   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering occurs for a duration of at least one minute and after the exerting. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering occurs for a duration of at least one minute and prior to the exerting. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering occurs during a first time period, the first time period commencing prior to the exerting, and during a second time period, the second time period commencing at a time during the exerting or at a time after the exerting. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering occurs for a duration of at least ten minutes and prior to the exerting. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering occurs once per day for a predetermined finite minimum period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering occurs for about 1 minute per session, about 2 minutes per session, about 3 minutes per session, or about 5 minutes per session. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering occurs for about 10 minutes per session, about 15 minutes per session, about 20 minutes per session, about 30 minutes per session, or about 45 minutes per session. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light is pulsed during at least a portion of the administering. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light has a wavelength of from about 585 nm to about 665 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light has a wavelength of from about 815 nm to about 895 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light has a wavelength of about 850 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the force causes the root tooth resorption in an absence of the administering. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering is intra-orally administering. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering is extra-orally administering. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering is intra-orally and extra-orally administering. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a magnitude of the force is within a range of about 125 g to about 600 g of force per tooth. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soft tissue is alveolar tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light has an intensity ranging from about 10 mW/cm 2  to about 1 W/cm 2 .