Accelerate adult orthodontic treatment by 3x to 4x while building a thicker, more stable foundation of bone. Certified clinical specialist Dr. Chanook David Ahn, DMD, brings over a decade of advanced periodontic-orthodontic surgery experience to Orange County.
Traditional orthodontic treatment operates within strict anatomical boundaries. The teeth reside in the alveolar bone housing, which consists of a dense outer shell of cortical bone and an inner core of porous trabecular bone. When an orthodontist places brackets or aligners, they apply gentle, continuous pressure to guide teeth through this bone. This pressure triggers a biological cycle: bone resorbs on the side of pressure (led by osteoclast cells) and new bone forms on the side of tension (led by osteoblast cells).
However, this biological remodeling process has distinct physiological limits, particularly in adult patients. In adults, bone metabolism is significantly slower than in children and teenagers. This slower bone turnover often translates into long treatment times, frequently spanning two to three years. Furthermore, if conventional orthodontic forces guide teeth beyond the boundaries of the thin alveolar bone envelope, it can lead to severe clinical complications, including:
To overcome these structural boundaries, modern dentistry utilizes **Periodontally Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics (PAOO)** and **Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy (SFOT)**—collectively known as Wilckodontics. Instead of accepting the bone's thickness and slow metabolism as a permanent bottleneck, this approach surgically modifies the bone itself, temporarily boosting its metabolic rate and expanding its volume. This enables rapid, stable orthodontic tooth movement without risking structural damage.
At The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa, Dr. Ahn utilizes ultra-low-dose Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) 3D imaging to capture sub-millimeter anatomical maps of your jaw, roots, and alveolar bone thickness. This allows us to plan your corticotomy lines and bone graft volume with absolute mathematical precision before the surgical phase begins.
The core scientific engine behind Wilckodontics is a biological process called the Regional Acceleratory Phenomenon (RAP). First described in 1983 by the prominent bone biologist Dr. Harold Frost, the RAP is a localized physiological healing response triggered by selective surgical trauma to bone tissue.
When the hard outer layer of the alveolar bone (the cortical plate) is gently scored or perforated, the body initiates an intense, localized healing cascade. This response triggers a rapid mobilization of inflammatory cytokines, chemical signals, and cellular activity. The metabolic rate of the bone surrounding the surgical site spikes dramatically. Specifically, bone turnover increases by four to eight times its baseline rate, temporarily reducing the mineral density of the bone in that specific region.
This localized drop in bone mineral density creates a transient state of clinical **osteopenia**. The bone temporarily loses its rigid, fibrous stiffness and assumes a more plastic, pliable state. This occurs without compromising the overall structural integrity of the jaw. During this temporary metabolic window—which peaks between 1 and 4 months post-surgery and slowly tapers off by month 6—the tooth roots encounter minimal resistance from the surrounding bone structure.
Because the bone is in a soft, actively remodeling state, the orthodontic appliances can guide the teeth into place rapidly. What would normally take weeks of slow pressure occurs in a fraction of the time because the bone tissue is actively remodeling around the moving root. Once the teeth reach their target positions, the RAP window closes, the bone remineralizes, and the jaw re-hardens around the roots in their new, stable configuration.
Undergoing a Wilckodontics procedure involves close, structured coordination between Dr. Ahn (your surgical periodontist) and your orthodontist. Below is the clinical journey from your initial diagnostic workup to the final retention phase.
Before any treatment, we capture a 3D Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scan. Dr. Ahn collaborates with your orthodontist to analyze this scan, evaluating the path of movement, identifying areas with thin bone plates, and determining exactly where the cortical bone must be scored. Your orthodontist will typically place your brackets and initial archwires immediately before the surgery.
The surgical procedure is performed in our state-of-the-art Costa Mesa clinic under local anesthesia or IV sedation. Dr. Ahn creates precise, minimally invasive micro-flaps in the gum tissue to gain direct access to the outer cortical bone plate. Using advanced piezosurgical instruments (which use ultrasonic micro-vibrations to score bone while leaving delicate soft tissues and nerves completely untouched), Dr. Ahn makes selective corticotomy lines and micro-perforations around the tooth roots.
With the cortical plate scored, Dr. Ahn applies a thick layer of bone grafting material over the root surfaces. This graft typically consists of a customized mix of particulate bone minerals and growth factors (often enhanced with Platelet-Rich Fibrin, or PRF, harvested from a small sample of your own blood). This graft acts as a scaffold, stimulating your osteoblasts to build new, thicker bone. The gum tissues are then closed using micro-sutures.
This is where the magic happens. Within 7 to 14 days of surgery—while the RAP response is active—you will visit your orthodontist. They will apply orthodontic forces to start guiding the teeth. During the active RAP window (months 1 through 5), you will visit your orthodontist every 2 to 3 weeks (compared to the usual 6 to 8 weeks) for adjustments to keep pace with the rapidly remodeling bone.
Once the teeth are aligned, orthodontic adjustments slow down to let the bone remineralize. The particulate graft integrates with your natural tissue, creating a thick, protective layer of bone around your teeth. The braces or aligners are removed, and you enter the standard retention phase, securing a beautiful, functionally stable smile.
While accelerated orthodontics sounds appealing to everyone, Wilckodontics is especially beneficial for patients who have specific anatomical challenges or strict timelines. Dr. Ahn recommends this therapy for several clinical patient profiles:
Adult bone does not remodel as quickly as adolescent bone, meaning traditional adult braces can take up to three years. Wilckodontics is ideal for professionals and adults who want to complete their treatment in 6 to 9 months instead of years.
In cases of severe crowding, traditional orthodontics often requires extracting healthy premolar teeth to create space. With Wilckodontics, the bone grafting expands the width of the bone housing. This extra volume allows crowded teeth to align naturally within the jaw, preserving your natural teeth and facial profile.
Many adults who wore braces during their youth experience "orthodontic relapse" due to not wearing their retainers. If you need orthodontic treatment a second time, Wilckodontics can correct the relapse in a matter of months, minimizing the time spent in braces again.
If you naturally have thin bone coverage over your tooth roots, traditional orthodontics poses a risk of gum recession or root exposure. The bone grafting component of Wilckodontics adds a protective layer of new bone, strengthening your periodontal foundation.
Wilckodontics is an advanced surgical technique that requires a high level of training, manual precision, and a deep understanding of bone biology. As a **board-certified periodontist** and a **Clinical Faculty Lecturer at the UCLA School of Dentistry**, Dr. Chanook David Ahn has been a certified Wilckodontics provider since 2016. He brings a decade of dedicated clinical experience in PAOO and SFOT surgery to Southern California.
Following his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from Tufts University, Dr. Ahn completed his General Practice Residency at **Yale-New Haven Hospital**, where he served as Chief Resident. He then completed three years of intensive specialty training in Periodontics and Implant Surgery at the **VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System**. This extensive residency background in microsurgical bone grafting and tissue regeneration allows Dr. Ahn to perform corticotomy surgery with minimal post-operative discomfort and exceptional precision.
These terms refer to the same biological concept: using surgery to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement. Wilckodontics is the patented brand name of the technique developed by the Wilcko brothers. PAOO (Periodontally Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics) is the scientific term for the procedure. SFOT (Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy) is a broader term focusing on optimizing the bone envelope to ensure safe tooth movement. Dr. Ahn is certified in all three protocols.
The surgical procedure is completely painless, performed under local anesthesia or IV sedation. Afterward, you will experience some swelling and mild soreness for 3 to 5 days. This discomfort is highly manageable with prescribed or over-the-counter pain relievers and cold compresses.
Most patients complete their orthodontic treatment in 6 to 12 months, compared to the conventional adult timeline of 18 to 30 months. In less complex cases, treatment can be finished in as little as 3 to 6 months.
Yes. In conventional orthodontics, teeth are moved through existing bone, which can sometimes thin the bone plate. Wilckodontics places a particulate bone graft over the scored bone. This graft integrates into your natural structure, leaving you with a thicker, stronger foundation of bone than you had before treatment.
No. Your gums and bone must be free of active periodontal disease (infection) before undergoing Wilckodontics. As a periodontist, Dr. Ahn will first treat any active gum disease, ensuring your tissues are healthy and stable before initiating the surgical and orthodontic phases.
Dental insurance plans typically cover standard orthodontics and surgical procedures separately. Some insurance plans cover a portion of the bone grafting or surgical corticotomy if there is a documented medical need (such as thin bone plates). Our Costa Mesa office provides detailed insurance pre-authorizations to help maximize your benefits.
Dr. Ahn has been a certified Wilckodontics provider since 2016. He has over ten years of clinical experience performing corticotomy-facilitated orthodontic surgeries in Southern California, collaborating with leading orthodontists in the Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, and Tustin areas.
Schedule a comprehensive 3D diagnostic consultation at our Costa Mesa office to see if Wilckodontics (PAOO/SFOT) is the right solution for you.
Request a Consultation with Dr. Ahn