PAOO- Malocclusion Correction With The Help Of Periodontics and Orthodontics

It is known that overcrowding of teeth, extra teeth or missing teeth, gaps between teeth, asymmetric jawbones, facial bone irregularities, etc lead to malocclusion or bite problems. Several of these factors are genetically inherited though. Fortunately, orthodontics can correct malocclusion problems and give a person desired dental structure. The correction of the bite; however, usually takes 1-3 years of time depending on the extent of correction. Still, the time remains the same no matter whatever is the method a person opting for; whether it is metal brackets or lingual brackets or the latest Invisaligns.

In this context Wilckodontics, a newly found specialty, promises a hope with respect to quicker correction time for the patients. Tom Wilcko a periodontist and William Wilcko an orthodontist have come up with this latest technique, Wilckodontics, as they say, is an accelerated orthodontics technique. The technique is gaining popularity because it promises to correct bite problems faster than conventional orthodontics (less than a year’s time).

The two researchers have come out with Wilcodontics using the principle of PAOO, a short form for periodontally-accelerated osteogenic orthodontics (the Periodontics and Orthodontics operate in conjunction here).

What is PAOO and how is a person given treated with PAOO?

PAOO or periodontally-accelerated osteogenic orthodontics is a new innovation in dentistry to correct malocclusion relatively faster than conventional orthodontics.  But in PAOO, a Periodontist operates altering a person’s jawbone structure that supports the dentures and then the Orthodontist work along with him to correct the bite problem.

It involves a minor bone graft surgery where, under anesthesia, a patients’ jawbone is cut into desired number of thin grooves and then these grooves are grafted (filled) again with bone grafts. Noteworthy here is that a graft taken from other bone of the same patient is referred to as autogenous bone graft and it has many advantages over the heterogenous bone grafting (bone graft taken from a calf or pig or other patient).

Once the surgical healing starts, the jawbone that has had the grafting done becomes soft. It is now that the Orthodontist comes into pictures and he fits the teeth with braces and the arch wire. The softened jawbone paves room for the braces to align the teeth faster than the conventional way.

Experts are looking at the minimally invasive bone grafting techniques for PAOO so the entire process becomes less painful and less traumatic for the patient. It also ensures quick healing of the graft site.

Who are the candidates for PAOO?

PAOO technique is very ideal for all those with a full dento-alveolar (teeth and respective bones) growth. It’s certainly not for children.

Advantages of PAOO

1) Faster realization of orthodontic bite correction.
2) No root resorption problems as experienced by the conventional orthodontic treatment (although patients are least aware of this problem, it is still a serious adverse effect of the conventional orthodontics, wherein the apical root tissue weathers or erodes due to forceful movement of movement of teeth with orthodontic appliances).