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168]
Review Article
Department of Abstract:
Orthodontics, Institute Adult orthodontics has gained widespread acceptance recently with the introduction of more esthetic options for
of Dental Studies the patient. The major deterrent that remains is the prolonged treatment time associated with comprehensive
and Technologies, orthodontic treatment. The objective of this paper is to present a review of techniques, which could be employed
Modinagar, by the orthodontist in conjunction with a periodontist to enhance the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. The
Uttar Pradesh, India biological rationale and clinical manipulation have been discussed with a brief review of the current literature
about these techniques. The interdisciplinary approach involving the orthodontist and the periodontist can benefit
the patient by affording them with reduced treatment time.
Key words:
Alveolar process/surgery, cortical bone/surgery, malocclusion/therapy, osteogenesis, tooth movement
techniques/methods
osteocytes function as a sensor of mechanical load on the bone new bone formation at the tension side of the tooth.[32‑34] New
and initiate bone remodeling involving both the osteoblasts bone mineralization takes place at about 20–55 days, where the
and osteoclasts. This bone remodeling is an essential aspect fibrous tissue is later replaced by bone.[35]
of orthodontic tooth movement, any attempt to accelerate the
orthodontic tooth movement is centered around modifying CORTICOTOMIES
this remodeling process.
Wilcko combined the refined corticotomy‑facilitated orthodontic
Research in the field of orthodontic tooth movement has technique with alveolar augmentation and named the
revealed that osteoclastic activity is the rate‑limiting step, orthodontic and periodontal aspects of this procedure the
which determines the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. Any accelerated osteogenic orthodontics (AOO) technique, and more
attempt to increase the rate of orthodontic tooth movement recently, the periodontally AOO surgical technique, respectively.
should be focused around osteoclast and on the various
processes by which osteoclast are recruited and differentiated Case selection
to initiate bone resorption.[23] PAOO can be utilized to treat Class I cases having
moderate‑to‑severe crowding, mild‑to‑moderate Class II and
Inflammatory markers like cytokines play an important role in Class III cases and patients requiring unilateral expansion.
osteoclast recruitment and differentiation, any process leading A close interaction between the orthodontist and the
to an increase in the levels of these proinflammatory markers periodontist is required. Areas requiring corticotomies are
may increase the rate of tooth movement. There are different defined, and teeth which are going to serve as anchor teeth
methods described in the literature to increase the levels of are delineated earlier. Any adjunct procedure which might
cytokines locally.[24‑26] be required along with the corticotomies, for example, free
gingival grafts should also be planned beforehand to reduce
The levels of the cytokines can be increased by locally any further surgical trauma to the patient.
injecting them at the site of orthodontic tooth movement,
but this method is not conducive at a clinical level as these Orthodontic strap up should be planned carefully as the
inflammatory markers have a very short half‑life, when injected application of orthodontic force should not be delayed >2 weeks
and disintegrate before any useful clinical tooth movement after the surgery.
can occur.[27]
Procedure
Another method to raise the levels of these cytokines locally Generally, the orthodontic appliance is placed 1 week before
is to induce microtrauma within the bone and the PDL. the surgical procedure and subsequent orthodontic visits are
Procedures such as corticotomy, piezocision and micro‑osteo planned at a 2‑week interval.
perforations (MOP) are employed to induce trauma, which
in turn increase the levels of pro‑inflammatory markers such The surgical procedure could be performed under general or
as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interlukin (IL)‑1, IL‑6 locally. local anesthesia as required. Full‑thickness flaps are raised
These procedures can be utilized in a clinical set up to increase labially and lingually [Figure 1]. Including or excluding the
the rate of tooth movement temporally.[28] interdental papilla in the flap depends on the preference of
the surgeon. Interdental papilla on the lingual side between
The concept of the inflammatory cascade and its role in wound the maxillary central incisors are usually not included in the
healing led to the development of corticotomy facilitated tooth flap as the presence of the nasopalatine foramen in that region
movement by L C Bryan in 1893. It was later re‑introduced by prevents any osteotomy to be performed in that region. In
Kole in 1959 for rapid movement of the tooth.[29] His method addition, vertical releasing incisions can be used and are
involved osteotomy cuts being placed subapically into the full usually placed one tooth away from the intended area of the
alveolus to cause bodily tooth movement after application of osteotomy. Adequate flap reflection should be done till area
orthodontic forces. Due to its invasive nature and the amount near the apices of the teeth. Sometimes, a full‑thickness flap
of surgical trauma, the patient acceptance of this method was in the coronal portion and a split thickness flap in the apical
limited. portions maybe raised to ensure a tensionless closure of the
flap after the surgical procedure.
Wilcko et al.[30] reported two cases of de‑crowding with the
use of corticotomy cuts extending into the cortical bone A high‑speed handpiece with a No 1 or No 2‑round bur,
plates barely entering the medullary space. The biological physio dispenser, and piezoelectric knife can be utilized for
response to iatrogenic injury with corticotomy results from decortication. Vertical grooves are made in the inter‑radicular
“Regionally Accelerated Phenomenon” (RAP)[31] as described portion of the alveolar bone, extending from 2 to 3 mm from
by Frost, is seen as a consequence of the inflammation of the the crest of the alveolar bone and going 2 mm apical to the root
wound area. This is characterized by transient functional apices. Decortication is done on both the labial/buccal and
osteopenia followed by accelerated bone turnover over the palatal/lingual aspects. The vertical osteotomies are connected
course of time. The decreased mineral density allows for easier with circular osteotomies [Figure 2]. Care should be taken to
orthodontic movement of teeth during the remodeling and avoid any neurovascular structures.
healing. RAP is said to typically peak till about 1–2 months
and lasts about 4 months postsurgery. It is regulated by the As recommended by Wilcko, all the areas undergoing
RANK‑RANKL/OPG axis where osteoclast accumulation decortication require a bone graft, with the decorticated surface
takes place in the direction of the movement of the tooth and acting as a scaffold for the graft material. The amount and
is needed to justify it as a clinical tool which could be used area where the MOPs are to be done is infiltrated by a local
regularly. anesthetic agent. The location of the MOPs is very critical to get
the maximum benefit. The MOPs should be close to the target
Piezocision tooth. To get increased recruitment of osteoclasts (catabolic
An alternative to the conventional corticotomies is piezocision, effect), deep perforations are required (5–7 mm), whereas if
which is a conservative procedure that does not involve raising increased recruitment of osteoblasts is required (Anabolic
a full‑thickness flap. Due to this reason, patients readily effect) then shallow perforations (1 mm) spread over a large
accept this procedure in place of a conventional corticotomy. area is required.
An animal histological study conducted has revealed that
RAP due to piezocision may be greater than conventional Positioning of the micro‑osteoperforations
corticotomy because of the use of Piezosurgery knife at The MOPs should be placed in the attached gingiva to 1 mm
specific vibrations.[44] This could be due to the additive effect apical to the mucogingival junction. Clinically, the height of
of the osteocytes’ response to micro‑vibrations created by the the MOPs is dependent on the required tooth movement,
ultrasonic handpiece at specific settings. movements like torquing and intrusion might require MOPs
higher up in alveolar ridges near the apices of the teeth,
Procedure this might require vertical stab incisions in areas above the
Similar to corticotomy, the orthodontic appliance should be mucogingival junction to avoid incisions in the movable
in position 1 week before the piezocision. A mid‑level vertical mucosa the MOPs can be placed obliquely so that the
incision is placed on the buccal and the interdental aspect to perforation start in the attached gingiva but move apically in
facilitate the insertion of the piezoelectric knife. A 3‑mm deep an oblique fashion.
piezoelectric corticotomy is done through the vertical incision. It is
essential that the bony cut should pass through the cortical bone For deeper perforation, which is required for a catabolic effect,
and be deep enough to reach the medullary bone. The incision the position of the root is very important to avoid any trauma
is closed using interrupted sutures of a nonresorbable material. to the root surface. MOPs are required on both the mesial and
The patient is then seen by the orthodontist after every 2 weeks. the distal portion of the target tooth.
While the literature regarding the efficacy of piezocision is In general, the MOPs are made on the buccal aspect avoiding
limited, a few case reports[45] (Pakhare VV) and well‑designed the lingual mucosa which is generally thinner than the
randomized controlled trials[46] have given a favorable view buccal mucosa. MOPs are required on the lingual aspect; if
for the procedure, with a reduction of about 43% in the total the clinical situation requires so, contra angled handpieces
treatment time being reported. Similarly, another study[47] can be employed. In some cases where the residual ridge
reported that piezocision‑assisted distalization accelerates has atrophied, MOPs will be required on the crest of the
tooth movement and decreases anchorage loss. However, a residual alveolar ridge in addition to the buccal and the
few authors have compared corticotomy and piezocision, with lingual aspect.
the results favoring corticotomy in being the more effective
method.[48] As with corticotomies, a recent systematic review,[49] Number and depth of the micro‑osteoperforations
indicated weak evidence in support of piezocision. Increasing the number of the MOPs is a potent method to
increase the catabolic effect of the MOPs. In a clinical scenario
MICRO‑OSTEOPERFORATIONS placing 2‑4 MOPs per site is enough to initiate the catabolic
effect. Some sites may not permit increasing the number of
MOP is the least invasive procedure which is undertaken to MOPs, in such cases increasing the depth of the MOPs can
increase the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. Without the compensate. MOPs of 5–7 mm can be placed to increase the
need of reflecting a full thickness flap, as required in conventional catabolic effect.
corticotomy or incisions as required in piezocision, the MOPs
can be used to induce microtrauma to the alveolar bone, thus Clinical manipulation
producing RAP which in turn accelerates the rate of tooth 1. The patient is asked to rinse with 15 ml of chlorhexidine
movement. The MOPs can be done by the treating orthodontist for 30 s
without the requirement of additional health‑care professional, 2. The area intended for MOPs is identified, and the area is
thus reducing the overall cost of the procedure for the patient. anesthetized by local infiltration
3. A sterile MOP device (PROPEL, Excel orthodontics) [Figure 4]
A Consortium for Translational Orthodontic Research, is used to perform the perforations. The PROPEL device has
New York University College of Dentistry, New York, in markings for 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm of lengths for varying
collaboration with the Department of Developmental Biology, lengths of disposable tips that would be used according to
Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston has advocated this the depth of the MOP required
technique. The New York University (NYU) filled a patent 4. The desired length is set, and perforations are performed
on micro‑perforations. Propel orthodontics Inc., licensed on the cortical plate by gentle rotational movement until
this patent from NYU and developed a tool to facilitate the the desired depth has been reached [Figure 5]
procedure.[50] 5. The MOP device is removed by rotational movements
6. Ideally, bleeding is not observed after MOP, but slight
Procedure bleeding might occur for some patients. If bleeding does
MOPs are done only before the initiation of the intended occur, normal hemostatic measures are enough to control
tooth movement. After informed consent has been signed, the the bleeding
7. The treating orthodontist should inform the patient, that Disadvantages of the surgical methods
slight discomfort is normal after the perforations. Analgesics 1. Surgical morbidity associated with the procedures
are usually not required after MOP but if pain control is 2. Increased cost of the procedure has to be borne by the
required acetaminophen can be prescribed. Nonsteroidal patient
anti‑inflammatory drugs are usually contraindicated as 3. If not carried out properly chances of damage to the roots
their effect might inhibit the catabolic effect of the MOP of adjacent teeth
8. Chlorhexidine rinses are not required after the perforations, 4. Chances of pain, infection, and swelling after the procedure
but if the patient has poor oral hygiene, chlorhexidine rinses if proper hygiene is not maintained.
can be initiated to prevent any postoperative complications.
CONCLUSION
Frequency of micro‑osteoperforation
For catabolic effect 3–5 repetitions of deep perforations are Increase in the rate of orthodontic tooth movement facilitated
required and for anabolic effect shallow perforations are surgically could be used to reduce the overall treatment time
continued to enhance bone formation until the tooth movement for comprehensive Orthodontic treatment. Though the increase
has been completed. is temporary in nature because of the biological saturation
point (after which the RAP reduces), a significant reduction in
Orthodontic forces in a conventional set up are activated after the treatment time could be brought about. Procedures such
every 21 days, but in patients receiving MOPs to enhance as corticotomy and piezocision may have a RAP for around
the rate of tooth movement, reactivation of the orthodontic 4–6 months during which acceleration in the tooth movement
appliance is done after 2 weeks only. Application of orthodontic might occur. As for MOP, the RAP lasts around 28 days after
forces leads to the secretion of cytokines locally; frequent which the procedure has to be repeated. The current literature
reactivation prevents any drop in the levels of cytokines which indicates that these procedures might be capable of reducing
are already saturated after the MOPs. the overall treatment time, further controlled trials are required
to raise the level of the evidence in support so that these
Saturation of the biological response procedures could be used routinely with prescribed practice
The accelerated response seen after inducing trauma to the guidelines.
bone remains for a limited period, and saturation of the
biological response occurs after which the bone has to be Financial support and sponsorship
traumatized again to elicit the acceleration in tooth movement. Nil.
With procedures such as corticotomy and piezocision there
is a period of 4–6 months after which the saturation of Conflicts of interest
the biological response occurs. With MOP, this saturation There are no conflicts of interest.
period is of around 28 days. The procedure thus has to be
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