How did we cut this patient’s Invisalign treatment time in half while also treating his gum recession? The answer: SFOT (Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic Therapy).

This patient came to us with gum recession all over and thin bone. His dentist was hesitant to move the teeth because shifting them without addressing the thin bone and gum tissue would have made the recession worse. Instead, we combined SFOT with Invisalign to strengthen his bone and gums before tooth movement — allowing us to safely and efficiently complete treatment in just 3 months instead of 6–9 months.

By thickening the bone and gum tissue, we not only reduced treatment time 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.

After treatment, this patient’s roots are now covered, his gum tissue is healthy, and his alignment is corrected — all in half the time of traditional Invisalign.