Efficiency of Piezotome-Corticision Assisted Orthodontics

Local anesthetic will be administered to the labial sulcus of the mandibular incisors. A scalpel will be used to make three vertical incisions through the gingiva, 4mm below the interdental papilla, interproximally between mandibular canines and lateral incisors, and central incisors on the labial aspect of the mandible. The incisions will be 4mm in length. A piezosurgery knife will be used to create the cortical alveolar incisions to a depth of 1mm within the cortical bone. The depth of the cortical incision will be limited to 1mm for a safety margin. Postoperatively, subjects will be advised to rinse with chlorhexidine mouthwash twice a day for one week and take acetaminophen as needed.

Subjects will be followed every 4-5 weeks after the first wire placement until full alignment of the lower arch (irregularity index 0-2mm). The archwire sequence will be 0.014-in Cu-NiTi wire for the first two visits followed by a 0.014 X 0.025-in Cu-NiTi wire until completion of alignment.