Assessment of the effect of the corticotomy-assisted orthodontic treatment on the maxillary periodontal tissue in patients with malocclusions with transverse maxillary deficiency: a case series

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of corticotomy-assisted orthodontic treatment on soft tissue clinical parameters in patients with malocclusions with transverse maxillary deficiency. Methods: The study included 20 generally healthy adult individuals with malocclusion, who underwent a corticotomy-assisted orthodontic treatment in maxilla. During the corticotomy performed after full-thickness flap elevation, only the buccal cortical plate was cut with the use of OTS-7, OTS7-4, OTS7-3 ultrasound tips of the piezosurgery device (Mectron s. p. a., Italy). A clinical examination was performed prior to the corticotomy procedure, then repeated - 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the procedure. The following parameters were assessed: FMPI (full mouth plaque index), FMBOP (full mouth bleading on probing), PD (probing depth), CAL (clinical attachment level), GR (gingival recession height), RW (recession width), PH (papilla height), PW (papilla width), BS (bone sounding), biotype and KT. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in PD (mean difference: 0.06; 95% Cl: -0.33, -0.18), CAL (mean difference: 0.07; 95% Cl: -0.33, -0.19), PH (mean difference: 0.26; 95% Cl: -0.47, 0.05) and BS (mean difference: 0.13; 95% Cl: -0.41, -0.14) after the treatment. Statistically significant changes were also noted in relation to KT (mean difference: 0.17; 95% Cl: -0.07, 0.27) and biotype (mean difference: 0.07; 95% Cl: 0.26, 0.39), which thickness increased significantly after the treatment. No statistically significant differences were observed in GR, RW and PW. Conclusions: The corticotomy-assisted orthodontic treatment did not jeopardize the periodontal clinical status in maxilla. There is a need for further studies on a larger number of patient to compare the clinical findings with a control group as well as in patients with conventional orthodontic treatment in a longer follow-up time to find out more about the post-treatment periodontal tissue changes and stability.