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CompletedNCT04847492Updated Apr 21, 2021

Evaluation of Upper Anterior Teeth Retraction Rate Assisted by Two Corticotomy Techniques

An interventional study of Traditional corticotomy and Flapless corticotomy in Class II Division 1 Malocclusion, sponsored by Damascus University. Completed at 1 site in Syrian Arab Republic. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-04-21.

Sponsored by Damascus University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 3 years 10 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jun 2017, registered Apr 2021).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 30 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study aims to assess the dental changes, periodontal health and the pulp vitality in mini-screw supported en-masse retraction associated with traditional or flapless corticotomy techniques.

40 adult patients exhibiting class II division 1 malocclusion requiring upper first premolar extractions followed by en-masse retraction will participate in the study. They will be randomly and equally distributed into two groups: traditional corticotomy (20 patients) versus flapless corticotomy (20 patients). The corticotomy procedure will be performed pre-retraction. The dental changes will be assessed using dental casts. The impressions will be taken after finishing the leveling and alignment phase and before starting the en-masse retraction (T0), 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2), 3 months (T3), 4 months (T4), and 5 months (T5) following the onset of en-masse retraction. The final impression will be considered at the end of the en-masse retraction (when the canines reach Class Ι relationship).

Read the detailed description

One of the most important challenges in daily practice is prolonged orthodontic treatment duration. For that lots of therapeutic procedures have been introduced to minimize orthodontic treatment time such as surgical interventions. Even though the traditional corticotomy with flap elevation proved to be effective in accelerating different types of tooth movement, it has been deemed aggressive. Therefore, minimally invasive surgical techniques have been proposed and labeled 'flapless corticotomies'.

In flapless corticotomy group, vertical soft-tissue incisions will be made on the buccal and palatal gingiva by using a blade N.15. One incision will be made between the roots of the six upper anterior teeth, and two incisions will be made between the upper canines and second premolars. The incisions will be 5 mm long and started 4 mm apical to the interdental papilla. Then a piezosurgery knife will be inserted to perform the cortical alveolar incisions with 3-mm in-depth and 8-mm in length. No suturing will be needed.

In traditional corticotomy group, a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap will be elevated including the interdental papilla, and extended from the distal side of the second premolar on the right side to the same position on the left side without performing any vertical releasing incisions. The full-thickness flap will be extended 3 mm above the root apices, from the buccal and palatal sides, knowing that the incision in the incisal papilla region will be done around it with a (V) or (U) shape. Then, one vertical incision between the roots of upper anterior teeth and two vertical incisions in the site of first premolar extraction will be made by the piezosurgery knife. The vertical incisions will be connected by a horizontal incision using the piezosurgery knives. The vertical incisions will be 3 mm in depth, starting 2-3 mm apical to the alveolar crest, and extending 3 mm beyond the root apices. The interrupted technique of suturing will be done using a non-absorbent 3-0 black silk.

The en-masse retraction will be begun 4 days after carrying out the corticotomy procedure using 0.019×0.025-inch SS archwires with 8-10-mm long soldered hooks located distal to the lateral incisors. NiTi closed coil springs with 9-mm long will be extended from the mini-screws to the soldered hooks and applied 250-g of force per side. The patients' follow-up appointments will be every 2 weeks. The force will be measured on every appointment and adjusted if needed. The endpoint of the monitoring period will be the session when canines reached a class Ι relationship.

02

Conditions studied

  • Class II Division 1 Malocclusion

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Keywords

  • En-masse
  • retraction
  • corticotomy
  • flapless
  • miniscrew
  • upper anterior teeth
03

In context

Malocclusion

457 studies on the registry are indexed under Malocclusion; 89 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 40 is above the median of 36 across 372 interventional studies indexed under Malocclusion.

Browse Malocclusion studies →

Lead sponsor

Damascus University is the lead sponsor of 206 studies on the registry; 10 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 30 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Age range between 18 and 30 years.
  2. Class II division 1 malocclusion requiring extraction of upper first premolars.
  3. Mild to moderate skeletal class II malocclusion.
  4. Normal or excessive anterior facial height.
  5. No or mild crowding (tooth-size arch-length discrepancy ≤3 mm).
  6. Overjet >5 mm and \<10 mm.
  7. Completion permanent dentition (regardless of third molars).
  8. No previous orthodontic treatment.
  9. No drug use or systematic disease that would affect the bone and tooth movement rate.
  10. Healthy periodontium and good oral hygiene.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients with previous orthodontic treatment.
  2. Patients with severe skeletal dysplasia in all three dimensions.
  3. Patients suffer from systemic diseases or syndromes
  4. Patients on medication for systemic disorders, pregnancy or steroid therapy.
  5. Patients showing any signs of active periodontal disease
  6. Patients with severe crowding (≥ 3.5 mm) in maxillary arch
  7. Patients with missing or extracted teeth in maxillary arch except third molar.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
40 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Traditional corticotomy

    Adult patients will be treated by en-masse retraction associated with traditional corticotomy.

    Procedure: Traditional corticotomy

  • Experimental
    Flapless corticotomy

    Adult patients will be treated by en-masse retraction associated with flapless corticotomy.

    Procedure: Flapless corticotomy

Interventions

  • ProcedureTraditional corticotomy

    A full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap will be elevated including the interdental papilla, and extended from the distal side of the second premolar on the right side to the same position on the left side without performing any vertical releasing incisions. Then, one vertical incision between the roots of upper anterior teeth and two vertical incisions in the site of first premolar extraction will be made by the piezosurgery knife.

  • ProcedureFlapless corticotomy

    Vertical soft-tissue incisions will be made on the buccal and palatal gingiva by using a blade N.15. One incision will be made between the roots of the six upper anterior teeth, and two incisions will be made between the upper canines and the second premolars.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. The rate of en-masse retraction of upper anterior teeth.

    The rate of en-masse retraction of upper anterior teeth (mm/month) in each group will be calculated. This outcome will be measured by the following steps: Drawing a projection from the upper canine apex to the middle palatal bone line. Drawing a projection from the upper central incisor edge to the middle palatal bone line. Drawing a projection from the mesial ending of the third palatal rugae to the middle palatal bone line. Measuring the distance (mm) between the canine apex and third palatal rugae projections. Measuring the distance (mm) between the central incisor edge and third palatal rugae projections. The rate of en-masse retraction will be measured by dividing the distance between the canine apex/central incisor edge projections and the third palatal rugae projection by the time elapsed between assessment times.

    Time frame: The calculation of the rate of retraction will be done once the retraction procedures finish. It is expected to happen within 5 months

  2. Change in the anteroposterior movement of the molar at 5 months

    The anteroposterior movement of the molar (mm/month) in each group will be calculated. This outcome will be measured on the dental casts by drawing two projections from the central groove of the first maxillary molar and the mesial ending of the third palatal rugae to the middle palatal bone line. The anteroposterior movement of the first maxillary molar (mm) will be measured by dividing the distance between the two projections by the time elapsed between assessment times.

    Time frame: T0:1 day before the beginning of the retraction phase. T1: after 1 month of the beginning of retraction phase . T2: after 2 months. T3: after 3 months. T4: after 4 months. T5: immediately after the end of retraction phase (expected to be after 5 months)

  3. Change in the inter-canine width at 5 months

    The change in the inter-canine width (mm/month) in each group will be calculated. Assessment will be performed by measuring the distance between the cusp tips of the two upper canines. This variable will be measured on dental casts.

    Time frame: T0:1 day before the beginning of the retraction phase. T1: after 1 month of the beginning of retraction phase . T2: after 2 months. T3: after 3 months. T4: after 4 months. T5: immediately after the end of retraction phase (expected to be after 5 months)

  4. Change in the inter-molar width at 5 months

    The change in the inter-molar width (mm/month) in each group will be calculated. Assessment will be performed by measuring the distance between the the central groove of the two first maxillary molars. This variable will be measured on dental casts.

    Time frame: T0:1 day before the beginning of the retraction phase. T1: after 1 month of the beginning of retraction phase . T2: after 2 months. T3: after 3 months. T4: after 4 months. T5: immediately after the end of retraction phase (expected to be after 5 months)

Secondary outcomes

  1. The change in dental plaque index according to Silness and Loe

    Assessment will be performed using a gingival probe. (0) = No plaque. 1. = A film of plaque adhering to the free gingival margin and adjacent area of the tooth. The plaque may be seen in situ only after application of disclosing solution or by using the probe on the tooth surface. 2. = Moderate accumulation of soft deposits within the gingival pocket, or on the tooth and gingival margin which can be seen with the naked eye. 3. = Abundance of soft matter within the gingival pocket and/or on the tooth and gingival margin.

    Time frame: T0: immediately before the start of treatment; T1: one day before the commencement of the retraction phase; T2: immediately after the end of retraction phase (expected to be after 5 months)

  2. The change in gingival index according to Silness and Loe

    Assessment will be performed using a gingival probe. (0) = Normal gingiva. 1. = Mild inflammation: slight change in color, slight oedema. No bleeding on probing. 2. = Moderate inflammation: redness, oedema and glazing. Bleeding on probing. 3. = Sever inflammation: marked redness and oedema, ulceration, and tendency to spontaneous bleeding

    Time frame: T0: immediately before the start of treatment; T1: one day before the commencement of the retraction phase; T2: immediately after the end of retraction phase (expected to be after 5 months)

  3. The change in papillary bleeding index according to Muhlemann

    Assessment will be performed using a gingival probe. (0) = No bleeding. 1. = A single discreet bleeding point appears. 2. = Several isolated bleeding points or a single fine line of blood appears. 3. = The interdental triangle fills with blood shortly after probing. 4. = Profuse bleeding occurs after probing; blood flows immediately into the marginal sulcus.

    Time frame: T0: immediately before the start of treatment; T1: one day before the commencement of the retraction phase; T2: immediately after the end of retraction phase (expected to be after 5 months)

  4. The change in gingival recession index according to Miller

    The presence of gingival recession on the studied teeth was determined by using a gingival probe and naked eye view, with direct clinical measurement from the cemento-enamel junction to the edge of the free gingiva in the event of the recession.

    Time frame: T0: immediately before the start of treatment; T1: one day before the commencement of the retraction phase; T2: immediately after the end of retraction phase (expected to be after 5 months)

  5. Tooth vitality

    Assessment will be performed from the maxillary right first molar to the maxillary left first molar by using Ethyl chloride spray (endo ice) at a temperature -50°. Each tooth will be subjected to this ice and the resultant outcome is dichotomous (the tooth is vital, the tooth is not vital).

    Time frame: T0: immediately before the start of treatment; T1: one day before the commencement of the retraction phase; T2: immediately after the end of retraction phase (expected to be after 5 months)

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Department of Orthodontics, University of Damascus Dental School
    Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Al-Sibaie S, Hajeer MY. Assessment of changes following en-masse retraction with mini-implants anchorage compared to two-step retraction with conventional anchorage in patients with class II division 1 malocclusion: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Orthod. 2014 Jun;36(3):275-83. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjt046. Epub 2013 Jun 20. PubMed 23787192 ↗
  • Khlef HN, Hajeer MY, Ajaj MA, Heshmeh O. En-masse Retraction of Upper Anterior Teeth in Adult Patients with Maxillary or Bimaxillary Dentoalveolar Protrusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2019 Jan 1;20(1):113-127. PubMed 31058623 ↗
  • Alfawal AM, Hajeer MY, Ajaj MA, Hamadah O, Brad B. Effectiveness of minimally invasive surgical procedures in the acceleration of tooth movement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prog Orthod. 2016 Dec;17(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s40510-016-0146-9. Epub 2016 Oct 24. PubMed 27696311 ↗
  • Alfawal AMH, Hajeer MY, Ajaj MA, Hamadah O, Brad B. Evaluation of piezocision and laser-assisted flapless corticotomy in the acceleration of canine retraction: a randomized controlled trial. Head Face Med. 2018 Feb 17;14(1):4. doi: 10.1186/s13005-018-0161-9. PubMed 29454369 ↗
  • Khlef HN, Hajeer MY, Ajaj MA, Heshmeh O, Youssef N, Mahaini L. The effectiveness of traditional corticotomy vs flapless corticotomy in miniscrew-supported en-masse retraction of maxillary anterior teeth in patients with Class II Division 1 malocclusion: A single-centered, randomized controlled clinical trial. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2020 Dec;158(6):e111-e120. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2020.08.008. Epub 2020 Nov 4. PubMed 33158633 ↗
  • Khlef HN, Hajeer MY. Is It Possible to Achieve Favorable Accelerated Dental Changes with No Periodontal Complications When Retracting Upper Anterior Teeth Assisted by Flapless Corticotomy Compared to Traditional Corticotomy? A Two-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial. ScientificWorldJournal. 2022 Mar 7;2022:4261248. doi: 10.1155/2022/4261248. eCollection 2022. PubMed 35295761 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 21, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04847492
Lead sponsor
Damascus University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 19, 2021
Start date
Jun 9, 2017
Primary completion
Jan 1, 2018
Completion
Oct 15, 2018
Last update
Apr 21, 2021

Study contacts

Hanin Nizar Khlef, DDS,MSc
principal investigator · Specialist and Clinical Lecturer, Department of Orthodontics, University of Damascus
Mohammad Y Hajeer, DDS,MSc,PhD
study chair · Associate Professor of Orthodontics, University of Damascus Dental School, Damascus, Syria
Omar Heshmeh, DDS,MSc,PhD
study director · Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Damascus Dental School, Damascus, Syria

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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