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 . An intra-oral light therapy apparatus, comprising:
 an oral tray configured to fit within an oral cavity of a patient; and   a light source one of embedded within or attached to the oral tray,   the light source configured to transmit light to a mucosal tissue overlying a tooth root of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         3 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of emitters. 
     
     
         4 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a laser. 
     
     
         5 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the laser is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), an Indium-Gallium-Aluminum-Phosphide (InGaAlP) laser, a Gallium-Arsenic Phosphide/Gallium Phosphide (GaAsP/GaP) laser, or a Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide/Gallium-Arsenide (GaAlAs/GaAs) laser. 
     
     
         6 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light's duty cycle, frequency, intensity, or wavelength is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to emit the light at an intensity ranging from about 7 mW/cm 2  to about 500 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light comprises infrared light or near-infrared light. 
     
     
         9 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a wavelength of the light ranges from about 595 nm to about 1,000 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The intra-oral light therapy apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to emit the light in pulses. 
     
     
         11 . A method of regulating tooth movement, the method comprising:
 introducing a light-therapy oral tray into an oral cavity of a patient, the light-therapy oral tray including a light source; and   administering light from the light source to a region of mucosal tissue in the oral cavity of the patient, at a time before, during, or after which a force is applied to a tooth of the patient, for a duration effective to regulate a movement of the tooth of the patient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mucosal tissue overlies a root of tooth of the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein an orthodontic appliance exerts the force. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the force is from about 150 grams to about 600 grams. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the force is about 100 grams. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the duration is from about 5 minutes to about 40 minutes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the regulating a movement of the tooth of the patient comprises increasing a speed or a velocity of movement of the tooth relative to another tooth of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the light is effective to reduce an amount of time to achieve a predetermined degree of bone remodeling by at least 10% as compared to a corresponding amount of time to achieve the predetermined degree of bone remodeling without administering the light. 
     
     
         19 . A method of regulating tooth movement, the method comprising:
 introducing an intra-oral light therapy apparatus into an oral cavity of a patient, the intra-oral light therapy apparatus comprising an oral tray configured to fit within an oral cavity of a patient; and a light source embedded within or attached to the oral tray, the light source configured to transmit light to a mucosal tissue overlying a tooth root of the patient; and   administering light from the light source to a region of mucosal tissue in the oral cavity of the patient, at a time before, during, or after which a force is applied to a tooth of the patient, for a duration effective to regulate a movement of the tooth of the patient.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of emitters. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light source comprises a laser. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light source comprises a laser, and the laser is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), an Indium-Gallium-Aluminum-Phosphide (InGaAlP) laser, a Gallium-Arsenic Phosphide/Gallium Phosphide (GaAsP/GaP) laser, or a Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide/Gallium-Arsenide (GaAlAs/GaAs) laser. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light's duty cycle, frequency, intensity, or wavelength is adjustable. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light source is configured to emit the light at an intensity ranging from about 7 mW/cm 2  to about 500 W/cm 2 . 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light comprises infrared light or near-infrared light. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a wavelength of the light ranges from about 595 nm to about 1,000 nm. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light source is configured to emit the light in pulses.