Corticotomy assisted lower molar protraction in orthodontic treatment

An increasing number of adult patients have been seeking orthodontic treatment, and a short treatment time has been a recurring request. To meet their expectations, a number of innovative techniques have been developed to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement. Corticotomy-assisted orthodontic treatment is an established and efficient technique that has gradually gained popularity as an adjunct treatment option for the orthodontic treatment of adults in which there is selective alveolar decortication with or without bone grafting. Orthodontic closure of old, edentulous spaces in the mandibular posterior region is a major challenge because of high density of mandibular bone. In this case report, we have performed corticotomy that can expedite space closure while maintaining control over tooth angulations in adult patients with long-standing edentulous sites.