This article demonstrates a new orthodontic method that provides shortened treatment
times and concomitant periodontal alveolar augmentation. A female patient, 27 years of
age, with a Class I, moderately crowded malocclusion, elected to undergo this new treatment
option, due to the estimated reduction in treatment time. During the week following
bracketing and wire activation, labial and lingual full-thickness flaps were reflected in the
maxillary and mandibular arches. The exposed cortical layer of bone over the roots of the
teeth designated for the major orthodontic movements was then selectively decorticated.
Prior to the primary flap closure, a bone grafting/augmentation procedure was performed
over the partially decorticated bone. Following the periodontal plastic surgery, the orthodontic
adjustments were performed approximately every 2 weeks. No excessive forces
were used. The total orthodontic treatment, from bracketing to debracketing, required
exactly 6 months, with 12 orthodontic adjustments. The authors theorize that the rapid
orthodontic decrowding and minimal apical root resorption are attributable to increased
regional bone turnover (the regional acceleratory phenomenon) and the associated
osteopenia (ie, calcium depletion and diminished bone density) that was precipitated by
selective decortication. World J Orthod 2003;4:197–205
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