BackgroundThe aim of the study was to assess the effect of corticotomy–assisted orthodontic treatment on soft tissue clinical parameters in patients with malocclusions with transverse maxillary deficiency.MethodsThe study included 20 generally healthy adult individuals with malocclusion, who underwent a corticotomy-assisted orthodontic treatment in maxilla. During the corticotomy performed after full-thickness flap elevation, only the buccal cortical plate was cut with the use of OTS-7, OTS7–4, OTS7-3 ultrasound tips of the piezosurgery device (Mectron s. p. a., Italy). A clinical examination was performed prior to the corticotomy procedure, then repeated – 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the procedure. The following parameters were assessed: FMPI (full mouth plaque index), FMBOP (full mouth bleading on probing), PD (probing depth), CAL (clinical attachment level), GR (gingival recession height), RW (recession width), PH (papilla height), PW (papilla width), BS (bone sounding), biotype and KT.ResultsThere was a statistically significant reduction in PD (mean difference: 0.06; 95% Cl: − 0.33, − 0.18), CAL (mean difference: 0.07; 95% Cl: − 0.33, − 0.19), PH (mean difference: 0.26; 95% Cl: − 0.47, 0.05) and BS (mean difference: 0.13; 95% Cl: − 0.41, − 0.14) after the treatment. Statistically significant changes were also noted in relation to KT (mean difference: 0.17; 95% Cl: − 0.07, 0.27) and biotype (mean difference: 0.07; 95% Cl: 0.26, 0.39), which thickness increased significantly after the treatment. No statistically significant differences were observed in GR, RW and PW.ConclusionsThe corticotomy–assisted orthodontic treatment did not jeopardize the periodontal clinical status in maxilla. There is a need for further studies on a larger number of patient to compare the clinical findings with a control group as well as in patients with conventional orthodontic treatment in a longer follow-up time to find out more about the post-treatment periodontal tissue changes and stability.

Objectives: The aim of the study was the long-term assessment of the condition of periodontal tissues after corticotomy-assisted orthodontic expansion in patients with transverse maxillary deficiency. Materials and Methods: The study included a group of 18 adults (9 women, 9 men) aged between 24 and 40 years who were at least 5 years post treatment. The following parameters were assessed: the full mouth plaque index (FMPI), full mouth bleeding on probing (FMBOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession height (GR), recession width (RW), papilla height (PH), papilla width (PW), bone sounding (BS), phenotype, and KT. Results: During examination performed at least 5 years after the completion of orthodontic treatment, the values of PD and CAL were found to be considerably decreased compared to the examination one year post treatment (PD: −0.23; 95% Cl: −0.29, −0.16) (CAL: −0.04; 95% Cl: −0.17, 0.10). The other parameters—FMPI, FMBOP, GR, RW, PH, PW, BS, phenotype, and KT—did not change significantly. Conclusions: Corticotomy-assisted orthodontic arch expansion does not have a negative effect on the periodontium in long-term observations. Clinical Relevance: Orthodontic arch expansion can lead to bone dehiscence and gingival recession. Long-term observations revealed that corticotomy-assisted orthodontic expansion of the upper arch is not followed by negative changes in periodontal status.

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