"Effectiveness of micro-osteoperforations in accelerating maxillary canine retraction in Angle Class I malocclusion:...

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of micro-osteoperforations (MOPs) in accelerating maxillary canine retraction and to assess patient-reported discomfort during orthodontic treatment for Angle Class I malocclusion.

This single-blinded, split-mouth, randomized controlled trial was conducted from January to May 2025 at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam. Forty patients (16-25 years) requiring bilateral maxillary first premolar extractions were randomly assigned to MOPs-assisted or conventional canine retraction.

On the experimental side, three MOPs (1.5 mm × 5 mm) were performed distal to the maxillary canine using the Excellerator device under local anesthesia. NiTi closed-coil springs (150 g) with miniscrew anchorage were used for canine retraction on both sides. Distalization was quantified on digital scans at 4-week intervals, and pain was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale at 1, 3, and 7 days. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (P < 0.05).

Canine distalization was significantly greater on the MOPs side (6.26 ± 0.36 mm) than on the control side (4.09 ± 0.35 mm) throughout the 16-week period (P < 0.001), representing a 1.5-fold acceleration in tooth movement. The mean distalization rate was 1.56 ± 0.08 mm/4 weeks for MOPs and 1.02 ± 0.08 mm/4 weeks for controls. Pain intensity was slightly higher on the MOPs side initially but remained mild and transient. No adverse events were observed.

MOPs are a safe, minimally invasive adjunctive technique that effectively accelerates orthodontic tooth movement and reduces treatment duration.Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07155018.