Corticotomy as Established Method in Orthodontic Therapy - A Review

In recent years the technique of corticotomy as adjunct treatment in orthodontic therapy has been well-established and has demonstrated its efficiency in case reports and clinical trials. The advantage of this technique is a reduced treatment time, which makes it an effective therapy tool - especially in adult patients. The mechanism underlying this technique is based on the regional acceleratory phenomenon. A selective alveolar decortication induces an increased bone turnover rate and transient osteopenia. This results in an enhanced rate of tooth movement in the initial phase after corticotomy.