Rapid canine retraction through distraction of the periodontal ligament

The process of osteogenesis in the periodontal ligament during orthodontic tooth movement is similar to the osteogenesis in the midpalatal suture during rapid palatal expansion. A new concept of "distracting the periodontal ligament" is proposed to elicit rapid canine retraction in 3 weeks. It is called dental distraction. Fifteen orthodontic patients (26 canines, including 15 uppers and 11 lowers) who needed canine retraction and first premolar extraction were included. At the time of first premolar extraction, the interseptal bone distal to the canine was undermined with a bone bur, grooving vertically inside the extraction socket along the buccal and lingual sides and extending obliquely toward the socket base. Then, a tooth-borne, custom-made, intraoral distraction device was placed to distract the canine distally into the extraction space. It was activated 0.5 to 1.0 mm/day immediately after the extraction. The anchor units were the second premolar and first molar. Cephalometric and periapical x-rays were taken before and after the canine retraction. Both the upper and lower canines were distracted bodily 6.5 mm into the extraction space within 3 weeks. New alveolar bone was generated and remodeled rapidly in the mesial periodontal ligament of the canine during and after the distraction. It became mature and indistinguishable from the native alveolar bone 3 months after distraction. During the distraction, 73% of the first molars did not move mesially and 27% of them moved less than 0.5 mm mesially within 3 weeks. The radiographic examination revealed that apical or lateral surface root resorption of the canine was minimal. No periodontal defect or endodontic lesion was observed throughout and after distraction. We concluded that the periodontal ligament could be rapidly distracted without complications. The rapid orthodontic tooth movement through distracting the periodontal ligament cannot be emulated by current conventional orthodontic concepts and methods.