The V-Pro 5 is an FDA approved orthodontic device that was introduced a little over a year ago as an aid to reducing treatment time by increasing the body’s ability to allow faster tooth movement. It speeds up tooth movement by delivering gentle high-frequency vibrations to the teeth. The device is meant to be used for just 5 minutes a day to achieve the desired results. It can be used with either braces or with clear aligner treatments like Invisalign.
It is generally felt that the V-Pro 5 is more effective at reducing treatment time when used in conjunction with Clear Aligner Therapy. With clear aligners, it improves the effectiveness of the aligners by improving the seating of the aligner, making the aligner more effective in moving the teeth to their desired position. This results in more efficient aligner treatment and means that the patients do not need to wear the aligners for as many days before being able to change to the next aligner in the series. These benefits are in addition to any increased speed of tooth movement.
Another benefit to patients using the V-Pro 5 is that it helps reduce the discomfort typically experienced after an adjustment or wire change with the braces, or when changing to a new aligner. The gentle vibrations generated will help the teeth move more comfortably and many patients notice a decrease in the duration of tooth soreness as well as the intensity. This occurs for patients undergoing treatment with braces as well as those being treated with clear aligners. The gentle high-frequency vibrations start with a low intensity that gradually increases until reaching the ideal intensity for reducing tooth movement and adjustment or aligner change recovery.
During the 5-minute daily use of the V-Pro 5, patients will bite down with gentle pressure that is sufficient to support the mouthpiece and hold it in place without holding on to the device. Clenching the teeth together or biting them down with heavy force is not required and is not recommended. If you are biting down enough to hold the device in place, it will transfer the vibrations to the teeth as intended.
The V-Pro 5 is meant to be used as a part of your orthodontic treatment, so it should only be used while the aligners are seated, or when the wires are tied into the braces with the colored ties. The 5-minute use time should not be exceeded unless recommended by your doctor. You can do the 5 minutes of vibration at your convenience as there is not a time that is more effective than any other time. Many patients find it most convenient to incorporate the 5-minute use of the V-Pro 5 into their morning or their evening routine.
Like any intraoral device, the mouthpiece will need to be cleaned on a regular basis. The mouthpiece disconnects from the device so it can be cleaned. Ideally the mouthpiece will be cleaned daily by rinsing it with water after use. Remember that the device is NOT waterproof and if it is rinsed or submerged it will damage the electronics and the unit will fail, so remove the mouthpiece for cleaning.