Corticotomy-assisted therapy for orthodontic space closure– A case report

Corticotomy, is one of the preferable means to obtain rapid tooth movement, early closure of spaces and avoid the need of an orthognathic surgery in selected cases, where in the conventional fixed orthodontics may take longer time or may be unable to provide the necessary results. In this, selective vertical and horizontal decortication cuts are made around teeth to be moved, which increases the tissue turnover and generates a state of osteopenia, allowing rapid movement of the tooth. In the present case, corticotomy was used as an adjunct for the closure of space present distal to the upper maxillary canine, which due to the presence of thick buccal bone over the maxillary right canine would have taken a longer time to close.