Vibration tailored to jawbone density with near-infrared light expedites orthodontic tooth movement

Malocclusion, a prevalent oral health issue, requires prolonged orthodontic treatment due to inefficiency of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Non-invasive physical stimulation has been increasingly applied to accelerate OTM. This study investigated how age-related variations in jawbone density affect the efficacy of vibration and near-infrared (NIR) light in accelerating OTM. Human computed tomography (CT) data and rat models revealed higher jawbone density in young adults than in adolescents. A ten-channel vibration-light integrated platform (VLIP) was developed to precisely control the stimulation parameters for OTM acceleration. The results demonstrated that low-frequency vibration (L-Vib) accelerated OTM more efficiently in adolescents with lower jawbone density, whereas high-frequency vibration (H-Vib) was superior in young adults with denser jawbones. Notably, vibration and NIR light acted synergistically in accelerating OTM with long-term safety and efficacy. Therefore, the study provides a theoretical basis for developing personalized physical stimulation strategies based on jawbone density to improve orthodontic treatment efficiency.