Laser-assisted Flapless Corticotomy in Accelerating Canine Retraction

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Laser-assisted Flapless Corticotomy in Accelerating Canine Retraction: A Split-mouth Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Erbium lasers have been suggested to accomplish corticotomy without flap reflection due to their attractive advantages. The current trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laser-assisted flapless corticotomy in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement. The secondary aim was to evaluate the patients' responses to laser application. It was postulated that canine retraction after laser-assisted flapless corticotomy would be accomplished within a shorter period compared with the conventional canine retraction method, with no significant degree of pain and discomfort.

Comprehensive orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances usually takes more than 18 months in mild and severe cases. Prolonged treatment time can cause many adverse effects such as pain, discomfort, external root resorption, white spots and dental caries. Decreasing the treatment time for tooth movement has been the focus of both the clinicians and the patients. For the last few decades, investigators have recommended many treatment approaches intending to reduce overall treatment time such as low friction and self-ligating bracket systems, low-level laser irradiation, electrical currents, pharmacological approaches, local platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and surgical approaches like dentoalveolar distraction and selective alveolar decortication or corticotomy

Inclusion Criteria:

• Class II division 1 patients requiring orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and a need for upper first-premolar extraction using a two-step retraction technique.
• Permanent dentition with an age range from 16 to 24 years.
• Healthy with no systemic conditions.
• Adequate oral hygiene and healthy periodontal tissues
• no previous orthodontic treatment
• Absence of canine endodontic treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bimaxillary dentoalveolar severe protrusion.
• Previous orthodontic treatment.
• Subject with psychological abnormalities.
• Subject with systemic diseases.