Corticotomy for orthodontic tooth movement

Corticotomy was introduced as a surgical procedure to shorten orthodontic treatment time. Corticotomy removes the cortical bone that strongly resists orthodontic force in the jaw and keeps the marrow bone to maintain blood circulation and continuity of bone tissues to reduce risk of necrosis and facilitate tooth movement. In the 21st century, the concept of regional acceleratory phenomenon was introduced and the development of the skeletal anchorage system using screw and plate enabled application of orthopedic force beyond conventional orthodontic force, so corticotomy has been applied to more cases. Also, various modified methods of minimally invasive techniques have been introduced to reduce the patient's discomfort due to surgical intervention and complications after surgery. We will review the history of corticotomy, its mechanism of action, and various modified procedures and indications.