Reduction in Overall Time with Corticotomy Using Piezosurgery in Orthodontics: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Abstract

<b>Background and Aims:</b> Decortication of interdental alveolar cortical bone is performed to shorten orthodontic treatment duration. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of corticotomy using piezosurgery on the reduction in orthodontic treatment time, comparing it to conventional single-phase orthodontic treatment. <b>Methods:</b> A thorough electronic search was performed to obtain randomized clinical trials that compared the treatment duration between piezocision-assisted orthodontic treatment with conventional orthodontic treatment. Overall treatment time measured in months, was analyzed, and patient age and tooth location were evaluated as potential factors affecting treatment duration. <b>Results:</b> Based on the eleven randomized clinical trials included in the meta-analysis, results showed a significant weighted mean difference between piezocision-assisted corticotomy orthodontics and conventional single-phase orthodontics only (-1.80 months, [95% CI (-2.51, -1.08), <i>p</i> = 0.771]). Patient age and tooth location showed no statistically significant difference between the investigated groups. <b>Conclusions:</b> Piezocision-assisted corticotomy is effective in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement and reducing an average of 1.80 months treatment time. This reduction, although modest, represents a 30.72% decrease in overall treatment duration.