Original Article

Effects of Corticision on Paradental Remodeling in Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Su-Jung Kima; Young-Guk Parkb; Seung-Goo Kanga
ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the biologic effects of Corticision on alveolar remodeling in orthodontic tooth movement. Materials and Methods: In this study, 16 cats were divided into 3 groups: group A, only orthodontic force (control); group B, orthodontic force plus Corticision; and group C, orthodontic force plus Corticision and periodic mobilization. Histologic and histomorphometric studies were performed on tissue specimens on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Results: Extensive direct resorption of bundle bone with less hyalinization and more rapid removal of hyalinized tissue were observed in group B. The accumulated mean apposition area of new bone on day 28 was observed to be 3.5-fold higher in group B than in the control group A. Conclusions: Corticision might be an efcient procedure for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement accompanied with alveolar bone remodeling. (Angle Orthod. 2009;79:284291.) KEY WORDS: Corticision; Regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP); Alveolar remodeling; Tooth movement

INTRODUCTION Application of a mechanical force causes tooth movement because of remodeling changes in the paradental tissues. Recent cellular, molecular, and tissue-level studies1 on the biologic mechanism of tooth movement suggest that a mechanical force is not the only stimulus for inducing tooth movement. Although clinical orthodontic systems generally use mechanical forces to induce bone remodeling, the use of pharmaceutical,23 electromagnetic,45 laser,6 and surgical stimuli in combination with the mechanical force for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement has attracted considerable scientic interest. A common feature of these various stimuli is that
a Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Oral Biology Research Institute, College of Dentistry, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea. b Professor and Chairman, Department of Orthodontics, Oral Biology Research Institute, College of Dentistry, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea. Corresponding author: Dr Seung-Goo Kang, Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, KyungHee University, 1 Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemoon-Ku, Seoul 130701, Korea (e-mail: orthodrk@khu.ac.kr)

Accepted: April 2008. Submitted: February 2008. 2009 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc.
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their biologic mechanism is based on the regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP). In 1983, Frost7 demonstrated that regional noxious stimuli of sufcient magnitude can result in markedly accelerated reorganizing activity in the osseous and soft tissues; he termed this cascade of physiologic healing processes as the RAP. This phenomenon is characterized by a burst of the localized remodeling process, which accelerates healing, particularly following the surgical wounding of cortical bone. Surgical injury is a potentiating factor for the induction of RAP. The use of supplemental dentoalveolar surgeries to accelerate tooth movement has been recommended. For rapid canine retraction, Liou and Huang8 proposed periodontal ligament distraction, and Iseri et al9 reported dentoalveolar distraction in accordance with the principles of distraction osteogenesis. Selective alveolar decortication by Wilcko et al.10 invoked a RAP, leading to a transient osteoporotic condition. These modied surgical techniques were reported to be effective in reducing clinical orthodontic treatment time. However, the actual drawback was little acceptance by patients due to the aggressive nature of these procedures, increasing postoperative discomfort, and the risk of complications. Corticision was introduced as a supplemental dentoalveolar surgery in orthodontic therapy to achieve accelerated tooth movement with minimal surgical inDOI: 10.2319/020308-60.1

CORTICISION IN ORTHODONTIC TOOTH MOVEMENT Table 1. Administration Schedule of Fluoresceins in Group IV Injection Time 24 7 14 21 28 Hours before intervention Days after intervention Days after intervention Days after intervention Days after intervention Fluorescein Oxytetracycline Calcein Alizarin red Oxytetracycline Alizarin red Detected Color Yellow Green Red Yellow Red

285 na; yellow orange; 30 mg/kg), calcein (Fluka, Switzerland; green; 10 mg/kg), and alizarin red (Fluka, UK; red; 30 mg/kg) to label the newly formed mineralized bone for quantitative analysis. The injection schedule is summarized in Table 1. The maxillary second and third premolars on both sides of all animals were connected with owable composite resin (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) that was extended onto the buccal surfaces to reinforce anchorage. Single buccal tubes (MBT, 3M Unitek) were bonded to the buccal surface of third premolars with Transbond (3M Unitek). Canine brackets (MBT, 3M Unitek) were bonded to the maxillary canines, and a 0.016 0.022-inch stainless steel sectional wire (RMO, Denver, Colo) was passively inserted from the canine brackets to the buccal tubes. The canines were retracted using 0.010 0.030-inch precalibrated closed Sentalloy coil springs (Ormco Co, Orange, Calif) (Figure 1B). The orthodontic force exerted by the appliance was 100 g at the beginning of the experiment. The magnitude of force was checked every week and was reactivated if required. After local anesthesia, Corticision was performed on the mesiobuccal, distobuccal, and distopalatal aspects of both maxillary canines in the experimental groups (Figure 1A). The mesiopalatal aspect was excluded due to the extremely thin palatal bone with a suture line, which had been conrmed in the cat skull. A reinforced surgical blade (No. 15T, Paragon, Shefeld, UK) capable of making a surgical incision with a minimum thickness of 400 m was employed. The blade was positioned on the interradicular attached gingiva at an inclination of 45 60 to the long axis of the canine and was inserted gradually into the bone marrow by malleting the blade holder penetrating the overlying gingiva, cortical bone, and cancellous bone. The surgical injury was left 2 mm from the papillary gingival margin in order to preserve the alveolar crest and was extended 1 mm beyond the mucogingival junction because of the presence of a narrow attached gingiva in cats. The blade was pulled out by a swing motion. Mobilization was performed only on the right maxil-

tervention. In this technique, a reinforced scalpel is used as a thin chisel to separate the interproximal cortices transmucosally without reecting a ap. Because Corticision has the clinical value of accelerating tooth movement, it is regarded as a convenient procedure for both patients and orthodontists. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the biologic effects of Corticision on alveolar remodeling in orthodontic tooth movement in cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, 16 domestic male cats weighing 2.8 3.5 kg were used. The cats were divided into three groups, designated as groups A, B, and C. Thirty-two canine teeth were included in the experiments. The treatment protocol for each group was as follows: Group A: Only orthodontic force (control) Group B: Orthodontic force plus Corticision Group C: Orthodontic force plus Corticision and periodic mobilization In all experimental animals, the group B and C treatment protocols were applied to the left and right maxillary canines, respectively. The control animals were individually separated from the experimental ones to rule out the possibility of systemic acceleratory phenomenon (SAP) following surgical injury. These three groups were further divided into four subgroups according to the duration of force application: group I, 7 days; group II, 14 days; group III, 21 days; and group IV, 28 days. The cats in group IV were intramuscularly injected with oxytetracycline hydrochloride (Fluka, Chi-

Figure 1. Photographs of experimental canine in cat. (A) Corticision on the mesiobuccal side of the upper canine. (B) Orthodontic appliance in place. (C) Additional manipulation. Angle Orthodontist, Vol 79, No 2, 2009

286 lary canines (group C) using a pincet immediately following Corticision and was repeated every 3 days throughout the experimental period. Postoperative care included gentamicin (DaeSung Co, Seoul, Korea; 0.1 mL/kg) injections for 3 days, tooth brushing, and daily hexamedine (Bukwang Co, Seoul, Korea) irrigation. Tissue blocks were resected from the separated maxillae, including the canines, the surrounding paradental tissues, and Corticision site. They were xed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, decalcied in 10% ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution, dehydrated in a series of ethyl alcohol concentrations, embedded in parafn, and longitudinally sectioned in the mesiodistal direction parallel to the direction of orthodontic force application. The 4- m sectioned slices were examined under a light microscope with hematoxylin and eosin stain and Massons trichrome stain. For the histomorphometric analysis, nondecalcied specimens were prepared from the group IV cats. These were examined under an ultraviolet (UV) uorescent microscope (Olympus BH-2, Olympus Co, Tokyo, Japan) with a UV lter ( 515 nm). Microphotographs of all specimens were obtained using a digital charge-coupled-device (CCD) camera (KAPPA PS30C) and were processed by a computer (Intel Pentium, 4.2 GHz). An outline of the labeled bone was traced from the microphotographs, and the areas of newly formed mineralized bone were measured using an image analysis software (Metreo version 2.5, KAPPA Image Base, KAPPA Optoelectronics, Accusoft Co, Gleichen, Germany). A subsequent examination of the slides by an oral pathologist conrmed these evaluations. RESULTS Light microscopic ndings of the compression side are shown in Figure 2. In the control group, extensive hyalinization of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and indirect resorption of the bundle bone adjacent to the compressed PDL was observed from the marrow spaces on day 7. On day 14, indirect resorption was widespread, and areas of local unresorbed bundle bone were observed with the remaining hyalinized PDL. These ndings corresponded to the lag phase of tooth movement. On day 21, resorption activity in the existing bundle bone ceased temporarily, causing markedly wide and traumatic PDL. In the Corticision group, the compressed PDL on day 7 contained less hyalinized tissue and more viable PDL cells than in the control group. Multinucleated osteoclast-like cells appeared on the margin of the bundle bone adjacent to the compressed PDL, thereby resulting in direct bone resorption subjacent to these cells. On day 14, the
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wide area of old bundle bone was resorbed leading to the development of large resorption cavities with increased recruitment of osteoclast-like cells. This facilitated the resumption of tooth movement followed by tissue remodeling as well as osteoid formation on the tension side. The microscopic ndings of the tension side are shown in Figure 3. In the control group, band-like osteoid formation was observed on day 7, which is associated with slow tooth movement including the movement within the PDL. New bone formation associated with stretched Sharpeys bers and proliferative PDL cells was observed on day 14. The osteoblasts gradually attened and developed into quiescent lining cells, and a few of them became embedded in the newly formed bone matrix on day 21. In the Corticision group, spike-like osteoid formation associated with rapid tooth movement was observed along with proliferative PDL cells and active osteoblasts on day 7. The osteoblasts were plump and vigorous and produced a thick layer of osteoid. On day 14, the number of osteoblasts and new osteocytes increased in the actively forming bone matrix. This newly formed bone containing multiple newly developed marrow spaces was easily distinguishable from the old lamellar bone. The process of lamellation by the remodeling of the new bone had progressed on day 21. The microscopic appearance of the healing processes at the Corticision site is shown in Figure 4. After 21 days, healing progressed in group B at the mesiobuccal aspect of the injury site. New bone developed at the site of the bone defect, and lamellation of the new bone was almost complete at this stage. On the contrary, the surgical gap was still wide, and both the resorption and the apposition of bone continued in group C. Fluorescent microscopic ndings are shown in Figure 5. Triple-uorochrome labeled surfaces are an index of new mineralized bone formation. The lines demarcated the amount of new bone formed 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after treatment. While sharp and thin labeling lines were evident on the alveolar wall ahead of the direction of tooth movement in the control group, diffuse and thick lines were observed in groups B and C. These thick bands implied that the formation rate of new bone was accelerated at the time of uorochrome injection. The amount and the rate of bone formation were similar in groups B and C, except for the remodeling pattern. In group B, active remodeling of the lamellar bone was observed to occur around the new Haversian systems at days 1421; this was indicated by multiple concentric circles labeled in red (stained by rst alizarin red) and yellow (subsequently stained by second oxytetracycline). The histomorphometric analysis indicated that the

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Figure 2. Microphotographs of periodontal tissue on compression side (100 ): (A) Control group on day 7. (B) Group B on day 7. (C) Group C on day 7. (D) Control group on day 14. (E) Group B on day 14. (F) Group C on day 14. (G) Control group on day 21. (H) Group B on day 21. (I) Group C on day 21. Arrows mean the direction of bone resorption. The compressed PDL in the Corticision group contained less hyalinized tissue and more viable cells than the control group, resulting in direct bone resorption. (AI) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. b indicates alveolar bone; p, PDL; r, root; h, hyalinization.

mean apposition length (mm) and accumulated mean apposition area (mm2/mm) were higher in the experimental groups than in the control group during all experimental periods (Figure 6). The mean apposition rate of the control group peaked on day 21 after demonstrating low values for the rst 14 days, while it peaked earlier, ie, on day 14 in the experimental groups (Figure 7). There was no remarkable difference

in the accumulated apposition area between groups B and C; however, it was 3.5-fold higher in group B (0.2771 mm2/mm) than in the control group (0.0798 mm2/mm; Table 2). DISCUSSION Corticision could activate catabolic remodeling in the direction of tooth movement. This was represented by
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Figure 3. Microphotographs of bone resorbing cells on compression side on day 14 (400 ): (A) Control group. (B) Group C. The resorption lacunae with osteoclast-like cells (small arrows) headed against the direction of tooth movement (large arrow) in the control group (undermining resorption), but headed for the direction of tooth movement in group C (frontal resorption). p indicates PDL; TM, the direction of tooth movement.

Figure 4. Microphotographs of periodontal tissue on tension side (100 ): (A) Control group on day 7. (B) Group B on day 7. (C) Group C on day 7. (D) Control group on day 14. (E) Group B on day 14. (F) Group C on day 14. (G) Control group on day 21. (H) Group C on day 21. More rapid formation and maturation of osteoid tissue was seen in the experimental groups than in the control group. (AF) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. (GH) Massons trichrome stain. b indicates alveolar bone; p, PDL; r, root; ot, osteoid tissue; ob, old bone; nb, new bone.

extensive direct resorption of bundle bone with less hyalinization and more rapid removal of hyalinized tissue in group B than in the control group. Corticision accelerated the anabolic remodeling activity as well. On day 28, mean apposition area of the mineralized bone was observed to be 3.5-fold higher in group B
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than in the control group. Histologic ndings revealed neither pathologic changes in the paradental tissues nor root resorption following Corticision. For accelerating orthodontic tooth movement, it is essential to minimize hyalinization of the PDL tissue or to stimulate the removal process of the hyalinized

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Figure 5. Microphotographs of the alveolar bone healing at the Corticision site with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain (40 ). (A) Group B on day 21. (B) Group C on day 21. Arrows mean the injury site. Delayed healing of the bone defect was seen in group C.

tissue. Considering that it is impossible to control the force magnitude clinically not to produce hyalinization, in the view of a biologic approach rather than a mechanical control, the lag phase of tooth movement can be shortened by stimulating the removal of hyalinized tissue. This can be attributed to the RAP because it stimulates cell-mediated responses around the tooth, thereby providing a favorable microenvironment for tissue remodeling. Various researchers have focused on controlling the microenvironment of the alveolar bone by using the RAP in an attempt to reduce tissue resistance.10 The transient osteoporotic condition involved increased release of calcium, decreased bone density, and increased bone turnover, all of which would facilitate tooth movement.11 This mechanism based on the RAP differed from the classical concepts of tooth movement such as the pressure-tension theory,12 bone-bending theory,13 mechanostat theory,14 and bony block movement in corticotomy.15 It is important that the cortical bone itself is not a
Table 2. Measurements for Histomorphometric Analysis Group Group A (Control) Group B (Corticision) Group C (Corticision and Mobilization) Mean Mean SD Mean Mean SD Mean Mean SD Measurements apposition length, mm apposition area, mm2/mm apposition length, mm apposition area, mm2/mm apposition length, mm apposition area, mm2/mm

barrier or resistance to orthodontic tooth movement. Garg16 emphasized that the RAP is primarily a phenomenon observed in the cortical bone. This new concept of cortical remodeling enabled the continuous advancement of supplemental surgical procedures involving minimal and conservative interventions. Germec et al 17 revealed that single-sided partial corticotomy in the mandible appeared to be sufcient to stimulate rapid tooth movement. Corticision minimized the degree of the surgical injury by excluding ap reection. Only mucoperiosteal ap reection without any decortication, as studied by Yaffe et al,18 could serve the RAP, resulting in widening of the periodontal ligament space and tooth mobility without any force application. However, the possible complications after ap surgery, such as crestal bone resorption and bone dehiscence were troublesome.18 Frost7 stated that the duration and intensity of the RAP are proportional to the extent of injury and soft tissue involvement in the injury. Hence, it was nec-

7 Days 0.0140 0.0118 0.0041 0.0723 0.0600 0.0220 0.0452 0.0472 0.0154

14 Days 0.0375 0.0283 0.0177 0.0860 0.0738 0.0484 0.1015 0.1030 0.0505

21 Days 0.0421 0.0396 0.0034 0.0371 0.0635 0.0255 0.0672 0.0528 0.0422

28 Days 0.0015 0.0001 0.0000 0.0736 0.0798 0.0390 0.0801 0.0795 0.0385

Total 0.0950 0.0798 0.0262 0.2690 0.2771 0.0337 0.2940 0.2808 0.0366

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Figure 6. Microphotographs of uorescence on tension side at 28 days after Corticision. (A) Control group. (B) Group B. (C) Group C. More new bone was formed in the experimental groups than in the control group. p indicates PDL; ob, old bone; nb, new bone.

Figure 7. (A) Mean apposition rate and (B) accumulated mean apposition area on tension side. The mean apposition area was 3.5-fold higher in group B than in the control group. Angle Orthodontist, Vol 79, No 2, 2009

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4. Davidovitch Z, Finkelson MD, Steigman S, Shanfeld JL, Montgomery PC, Korostoff E. Electric currents, bone remodeling, and orthodontic tooth movement. II. Increase in rate of tooth movement and periodontal cyclic nucleotide levels by combined force and electric current. Am J Orthod. 1980;77:3347. 5. Stark TM, Sinclair PM. Effect of pulsed electromagnetic elds on orthodontic tooth movement. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1987;91:91104. 6. Kawasaki K, Shimizu N. Effects of low-energy laser irradiation on bone remodeling during experimental tooth movement in rats. Lasers Surg Med. 2000;26:282291. 7. Frost HM. The regional acceleratory phenomenon: a review. Henry Ford Hosp Med J. 1983;31:39. 8. Liou EJW, Huang CS. Rapid canine retraction through distraction of the periodontal ligament. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1998;114:372382. 9. Iseri H, Kisnisci R, Bzizi N, Tuz H. Rapid canine retraction and orthodontic treatment with dentoalveolar distraction osteogenesis. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2005;127: 533541. 10. Wilcko WM, Wilcko T, Bouquot JE, Ferguson DJ. Rapid orthodontics with alveolar reshaping: two case reports of decrowding. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2001;21:9 19. 11. Goldie RS, King GJ. Root resorption and tooth movement in orthodontically treated, calcium-decient, and lactating rats. Am J Orthod. 1984;85:424430. 12. Storey E, Smith R. Force in orthodontics and its relation to tooth movement. Aust Dent J. 1952;56:1118. 13. Epker BN, Frost HM. Correlation of bone resorption and formation with the physical behavior of loaded bone. J Dent Res. 1965;44:3341. 14. Frost HM. The mechanostat: a proposed pathogenic mechanism of osteoporoses and the bone mass effects of mechanical and nonmechanical agents. Bone Miner. 1987;2: 7385. 15. Suya H. Corticotomy in orthodontics. In: Hosl E, Baldauf A, eds. Mechanical and Biological Basics in Orthodontic Therapy. Heidelberg, Germany: Huthig Buch Verlag; 1991:207 226. 16. Garg AK. The regional acceleratory phenomenon: an up-todate rationale for bone decortication. Dent Implantol Update. 1997;8:6364. 17. Germec D, Giray B, Kocadereli I, Enacar A. Lower incisor retraction with a modied corticotomy. Angle Orthod. 2006; 76:882890. 18. Yaffe A, Fine N, Binderman I. Regional accelerated phenomenon in the mandible following mucoperiosteal ap surgery. J Periodontol. 1994;65:7983.

essary to investigate whether Corticision was a logical modication to sufciently elicit the RAP for accelerating tooth movement. Clinically, additional manipulation intended to lengthen the duration of the RAP is initiated immediately after Corticision and repeated every 2 weeks thereafter. In this experiment, it was performed every 3 days considering the difference in the time cycle between humans and cats. This manipulation would involve the interception of the lamellation process of woven bone at the injury site and provide repeated microdamage. However, the effect of periodic manipulation on the remodeling of alveolar bone proper and on the rate of tooth movement could not be elucidated. Although additional manipulation would delay the healing process at the injury site, this was insufcient to last the duration of the RAP and the SAP. CONCLUSIONS Corticision stimulated orthodontic tooth movement in 28 days by accelerating the rate of alveolar bone remodeling. The biologic exploration of Corticision is crucial for broadening the scope of orthodontics by reducing the treatment duration. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Supported by the Kyung-Hee University Research fund in 2005 (20051041), Seoul, Korea (ROK).

REFERENCES
1. Krishnan V, Davidovitch Z. Cellular, molecular, and tissuelevel reactions to orthodontic force. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2006;129:469.e1e32. 2. Leiker BJ, Nanda RS, Currier GF, Howes RI, Sinha PK. The effects of exogenous prostaglandins on orthodontic tooth movement in rats. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1995; 108:380388. 3. Igarashi K, Mitani H, Adachi H, Shinoda H. Anchorage and retentive effects of a bisphosphonate (AHBuBP) on tooth movements in rats. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1994; 106:279289.

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