Corticotomy-Accelerated Orthodontics: A Comprehensive Review and Update

Of all the modalities reported to decrease orthodontic treatment time, corticotomy-accelerated orthodontics (CAO) is the only evidence-based approach. The aim of this article is to critically review the available evidence and to summarize the pros and cons of CAO. Articles published in the last 15 years related to CAO were screened and critically assessed. Based on the literature, CAO results in acceleration of the orthodontic treatment rate as much as three times on average, in addition to many benefits not commonly recognized by the profession or reported in the literature. CAO is effective and safe for shortening the orthodontic treatment time, as well as for enhancing interdisciplinary outcomes beyond what conventional treatment alone is able to yield. More investigations are needed to validate and verify, as well as understand, the long-term implications to treatment from both a periodontal and orthodontic outcome standpoint.