The effect of corticotomy on tooth movements during canine retraction

Abstract

Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the effect of corticotomy/corticectomy surgery combined with fixed appliances on tooth movement during the canine retraction phase. Materials and Methods: We assessed 13 postpubertal patients (3 males and 10 females) requiring extraction of both maxillary first premolars. One side of the upper dental arch was treated with a PG retraction spring as a control, while the other side was treated with combined corticotomy/corticectomy surgery and a PG spring. A force of 100 g was used for canine retraction on both sides, with activation of the spring monthly on the control side and once every 15 days on the combined treatment side. A paired t-test was used to assess the difference between the two sides. Results: There was a small but statistically significant reduction in the duration of canine retraction (P < 0.05) and an increase in the rate of canine retraction (P < 0.05) (mm/month) in the combined treatment group. No difference in anchorage loss was observed between the groups. Tipping per millimeter of retraction was significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Corticotomy-assisted orthodontics increased the rate of tooth movement during canine retraction in 20% ratio. Relative bodily tooth movement was achieved with the corticotomy combined treatment.