SFOT (Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy) Video Library
Thinking about orthodontic treatment but told you don’t have enough bone support? SFOT might be the game-changer you need. In this playlist, our periodontists in Washington, DC and Bethesda, MD walk you through Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy (SFOT) and why it’s used to enhance orthodontic results. Learn how SFOT strengthens the foundation of your teeth, improves bone architecture, and helps make orthodontic movement faster, safer, and more predictable.
Think of your teeth and jawbone like a house and its foundation. If you want to move walls or expand rooms, you need to ensure the foundation is strong enough to support those changes. SFOT (Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy) works the same way. SFOT prepares and strengthens the foundation (your bone and gums) so your teeth can move more efficiently and safely during your orthodontic treatment (braces or clear aligners).
By creating a stronger foundation, SFOT ensures smoother, faster, and more effective tooth movement. Paired with soft tissue or bone grafting when needed, SFOT not only optimizes your orthodontic results but also helps preserve bone density and support overall oral health.
Orthodontic tooth movement, such as Invisalign, can worsen gum recession in patients with thin bone or existing recession if the foundation isn’t properly prepared first. Moving teeth without adequate support can expose root surfaces, increase sensitivity, and lead to long-term periodontal issues. In this video, we explain why SFOT should be considered before Invisalign in certain patients. SFOT is a collaborative approach where a periodontist and orthodontist work together to strengthen the bone and gum tissue before tooth movement. This creates a healthier foundation, allows for safer orthodontic treatment, and helps prevent future recession.
3. Severe Crowding? Not an Invisalign Candidate? SFOT Changes That!
This patient had severe crowding. In many offices, the answer would’ve been: “You’re not a candidate for Invisalign.” By pairing Invisalign with SFOT , we were able to: create the space needed for the teeth to move, reduce the Invisalign treatment time from 2.5 years to 10 months, upright and widen the arch for better function and airway health, and strengthen the gum and bone foundation to help prevent future recession.
SFOT is helpful when teeth need more room to move. It allows us to expand and make space in a way that is difficult to achieve with aligners alone. For this patient, their teeth were overlapped and tilted inward, creating a narrow, V-shaped arch.
4. Smile Makeover with SFOT & Aesthetic Crown Lengthening
This patient came to us in the middle of her Invisalign treatment. Although her teeth were realigning, she was still unhappy with her gummy smile and wanted her lower teeth to show when she smiled.
To get her there, we created a comprehensive plan that included SFOT, Aesthetic Crown Lengthening, and ongoing Invisalign collaboration with her general dentist.
5. Who is a Good Candidate for SFOT?
Moving teeth without preparing the gums and bone first can lead to gum recession, bone loss, and even longer treatment times for some patients. That’s where SFOT (Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy) comes in—your secret weapon for a faster, healthier, and more stable path to a straighter smile. You might benefit from SFOT if you have: narrow arches or crowding, gum recession or thin gum tissue, bone loss, thick bone that resists tooth movement, significant tooth movement needed, and/or have a tight timeline and want faster results.
6. SFOT Reduces Invisalign Treatment in HALF & Treats Gum Recession!
How did we cut this patient’s Invisalign treatment time in half while also treating his gum recession? The answer: SFOT!
By thickening the bone and gum tissue, we not only reduced treatment time from 9 months to 3 months, but also covered exposed roots and prevented future recession. SFOT is a combined approach where the periodontist and orthodontist work together to prepare and strengthen the foundation (the bone and gums) before moving the teeth. This allows for faster, safer, and more stable results — especially in patients with thin tissue or existing recession.
7. Gum Recession After Invisalign? SFOT Prevents That!
Thinking about Invisalign? Don’t skip this step. If your gums are already thin or your bone is weak, moving teeth with Invisalign can sometimes make things worse, leading to gum recession. That’s where SFOT comes in. It strengthens the gum and bone before moving the teeth, which helps minimize the risk of recession down the road and sets your smile up for long-term health.
If you’re considering Invisalign, make sure a periodontist is part of your team. We can evaluate your bone and tissue first and help set you up for a healthier, more stable result.
When remodeling a house, you wouldn’t move walls without ensuring the foundation is strong, right? The same goes for your smile! That’s where SFOT comes in. SFOT strengthens your bone and gum foundation, making orthodontic treatment—whether braces or clear aligners—faster, safer, and more effective. Think of it as reinforcing your foundation before remodeling! It strengthens bone & gum tissue for optimal tooth movement, works seamlessly with your orthodontic treatment, and helps you achieve a beautiful, long-lasting smile—faster! With SFOT, we team up with your orthodontist or dentist to set the stage for success.
9. Can You Perform a Bone Graft with a Gum Graft? Yes, with SFOT!
Can a bone graft be done before a gum graft? The short answer: not for this patient. Growing bone vertically is unpredictable and difficult, so our focus for this patient was to thicken the gum tissue to help prevent future bone loss.
However, there is a procedure called SFOT. It combines orthodontic treatment (such as Invisalign or braces) with both a bone graft and a gum graft in the same procedure. This helps rebuild and thicken the bone and gum tissue simultaneously — but it only works when orthodontic tooth movement is part of the treatment plan.
Since this patient wasn’t undergoing orthodontic therapy, she wasn’t a candidate for SFOT, so we focused on strengthening the gums. If you have thin bone or gums and are considering orthodontics, SFOT may be an excellent option for you. Schedule a consultation with us to learn more about this innovative, regenerative approach to smile health.
10. Foods You CAN & CAN’T EAT After SFOT Surgery
Here’s your post-op menu on what to eat and what to avoid! Day 1-2: Stick to cold, soft things like ice cream, smoothies, and yogurt. Days 3-7: Move to soft, room-temperature foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal.
Rule of thumb: If you can smash it with a fork, you can eat it. Steamed carrot? Yes. Raw carrot? Not yet.
Avoid foods that are crunchy, sticky, spicy, or have seeds or small particles (chips, sesame seeds, quinoa, popcorn). No alcohol, smoking, drinking from a straw, or chewing on the surgical site.
You can also check out our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DistrictDentalSurgery
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Why Choose District Dental Surgery?
At District Dental Surgery, our board-certified periodontists specialize in advanced gum procedures using the latest technology. Patients from Washington, DC and Bethesda, MD choose us for our precision, expertise, and compassionate care. We focus on protecting your natural teeth, restoring gum health and aesthetics, minimizing discomfort with modern techniques, and creating long-term, natural-looking results.