Interpretation of corticotomy in orthodontics

Abstract

Corticotomy is an auxiliary surgical technique used in orthodontics to accelerate tooth movement by activating biological processes that facilitate bone remodeling. The objective of the study was to interpret corticotomy in orthodontics through a bibliographic review using the PRISMA 2020 methodology. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, limited to the period 2020–2024, yielding 236 initial results; after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 9 relevant studies were selected. The studies addressed various applications of corticotomy, including its use in severe malocclusions, pre-surgical treatments, palatal expansion in adults, and treatments combined with advanced technologies such as clear aligners. The results highlight that corticotomy significantly accelerates tooth movement, preserves bone morphology, and reduces treatment time, with a low incidence of complications such as root resorption or periodontal issues. The technique shows better outcomes when combined with bone grafts or when the depth and number of perforations are adjusted, although its effectiveness in extreme cases such as palatal expansion remains limited. We conclude that corticotomy is a valuable tool for optimizing orthodontic treatments, especially in adults, although challenges remain regarding protocol standardization and validation of its long-term efficacy. This study emphasizes the need for more controlled research to consolidate its ethical and evidence-based implementation.