Corticotomy in orthodontic treatment: systematic review

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate corticotomies effects to accelerate or facilitate dental movements in different kind of orthodontic treatments. DATA: This report followed the PRISMA Statement. A total of 9 articles were included in review. SOURCES: Two reviewers performed a literature search up to December 2018 in four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and SciELO. STUDY SELECTION: Controlled clinical trials and randomized controlled clinical trials conducted in human patients and published during the last 10 years in English were eligible to be selected. The articles should give detailed information about the results and treatment parameters. There were no limitations established in terms of the type of malocclusion to be corrected or the type of orthodontic treatment performed. RESULTS: The methodological quality and evidence of the selected studies was low. Most of the studies observed a statistically significant increase in the rate of dental movement, when performing alveolar corticotomies as coadjuvants of orthodontic treatment; either with the conventional technique or with piezocision. The effect of combining corticotomy with bone grafts was assessed. CONCLUSIONS: High heterogeneity among studies made it difficult to draw clear conclusions. However, within the limitations of this review, the corticotomy procedures were able to statistically and clinically produce significant temporary decrease in orthodontic tooth movement rate. This technique does not seem to involve major complications compared to conventional orthodontic treatments. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of this technique can reduce treatment time and therefore the undesirable effects associated with prolonged treatments.