What are the main surgical and non-surgical techniques of the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement?

Abstract

Different surgical and non-surgical techniques have been developed in order to reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment. Regarding surgical techniques, corticotomies are widely used. The micro-osteoperforation technique (MOP), in addition to the piezocision technique, have been developed to provide minimally invasive surgery as an alternative to conventional corticotomies, without the elevation of a mucoperiosteal flap. Regarding non-surgical techniques, the approach is radically different in terms of physical stimuli or chemical techniques. Corticotomy and piezocision techniques have been found to be effective in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement, although the corticotomy technique presents a significant risk of postoperative treatment. These two techniques also offer the possibility of adding a bone graft using a tunneling surgical approach. Regarding non-surgical techniques, physical stimuli techniques such as with a laser are easy to perform, non-invasive and seem to be promising. However, their effectiveness has not yet been demonstrated, as is the case for chemical techniques. While at first glance these techniques are reassuringly non-invasive, do they not give the sensation of playing the sorcerer's apprentice ? Although surgical techniques seem to have demonstrated their significant efficacy in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement, non-surgical techniques do not yet provide a sufficient level of evidence and / or safety to be performed in our routine clinical practice as orthodontists. As these topics are innovative, new and future scientific evidence should be able to lead to the development of all these concepts.