Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which doctor does corticotomy?Corticotomy is usually performed by an orthodontist or dental surgeon / periodontist during orthodontic treatment, or by an orthopedic surgeon in limb lengthening procedure.
2. How does corticotomy differ from other bone surgeries like corticotectomy, osteotomy and ostectomy?
In corticotomy, only the cortex of the bone is cut, while in corticotectomy, a part of the cortex is removed. In osteotomy, the bone is cut but throughout its thickness to include the cortex as well as the medulla, while in ostectomy, a part of the bone containing the cortex and the medulla are removed.
3. What are the advantages of using corticotomy prior to orthodontic treatment in adults?
Advantages of corticotomy prior to orthodontic treatment in adults include the following:
- Reduced treatment time. Orthodontic surgery usually takes more than a year, but corticotomy has to be found to reduce the time of treatment even up to a third
- Facilitation of dental arch expansion
- Differential tooth movement is possible; for example in case of impacted teeth
- Lesser root resorption and better tooth stability is obtained following the treatment
- Unlike osteotomy, it avoids injury to the surrounding tissues and bone
4. When should corticotomy for orthodontic procedure be avoided?
Contraindications of corticotomy include the following:
- Gum problems like active gum disease and gum recession
- Presence of severe posterior cross bite or bimaxillary protrusion (forward protrusion of both jaws) accompanied with a gummy smile.
