Assessment of high frequency vibrations on rate of space closure during Maxillary en-masse retraction: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Orthodontic treatment often takes a long time, discouraging many patients. To shorten treatment duration, researchers have explored methods to accelerate tooth movement, which are broadly classified as invasive (e.g., corticotomy, micro-osteoperforations, distraction procedures) and non-invasive techniques. Because invasive methods involve higher risks and discomfort, non-invasive approaches—such as low-energy lasers, electric/magnetic stimulation, and especially vibrational devices—are more widely investigated. Vibrations are believed to speed up tooth movement by stimulating bone remodelling. Animal studies (Nishiyama, Nishimura) have shown that especially high-frequency vibrations can increase cellular activity, promote osteocyte response, and enhance RANKL expression, leading to faster bone turnover. Commercial vibratory devices now exist, producing frequencies from 30–120 Hz (e.g., AcceleDent 30 Hz, VPro5 120 Hz). However, research results remain mixed. Some systematic reviews report little or no significant acceleration, while others find that low-frequency vibrations around 30 Hz may be beneficial. More recent studies have shifted focus to high-frequency vibrations. Animal studies (Alikhani, Takano-Yamamoto) and human trials using aligners (Shipley, Alansari) suggest high-frequency vibration may speed up tooth movement. High-frequency toothbrush use has also shown increased inflammatory mediators linked to faster movement. In contrast, low-frequency vibration studies, such as by Kumar et al., showed no significant benefit during en-masse retraction. Since there is limited research specifically on high-frequency vibrations during en-masse retraction, the purpose of the present trial is to evaluate whether high-frequency vibratory devices can effectively increase the rate of tooth movement in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment