Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment always aims to achieve its esthetic and functional goals with the maximum benefits and the least side effects. Orthodontic treatment usually requires a long duration of about 2-3 years, which poses high risks of caries, external root resorption, and decreased patient compliance. Consequently, the need to accelerate the rate of orthodontic tooth movement and to shorten the treatment duration becomes a necessary goal. For several decades, surgical corticotomy was proven to be an effective and safe method to accelerate OTM. Recently, low level-Laser therapy (LLLT) has been introduced as a conservative tool to shorten the treatment duration. The aim of the present study was to compare, a standard efficient but invasive technique like surgical corticotomy in accelerating OTM to another modality such as LLLT which is non-invasive and easily accepted by the patient. The study design was a randomized split mouth design to compare, clinically and radiographically, between the two interventions (Laser and Corticotomy) by assessing the rate of maxillary canine retraction achieved in 4 months. Secondary outcomes were to evaluate 1st maxillary molar anchorage loss, changes in tipping ant torque values of maxillary canine and 1st molar. In addition, the impact of both interventions on periodontal health was assessed. The present study was carried on 20 patients, 19 females and 1 male. All patients required maxillary 1st premolar extraction and subsequent maxillary canine retraction. After placement of upper and lower fixed appliances and completion of leveling and alignment stage, miniscrews were used for establishment of maxillary 1st molar anchorage. Prior to 1st premolar extraction, CBCT imaging was performed to assess the pre-intervention canine and molar position, tipping and torque. On the day of maxillary premolars extraction, both interventions were randomly applied (corticotomy and LLLT) together with the start of canine retraction. The corticotomy procedure consisted of submarginal full mucoperiosteal buccal flap elevation extending from the mid surface of the maxillary lateral incisor to the mid surface of the extraction socket. This was followed by cortical perforations done around the root of maxillary canine

Issued also as CD