Accelerated orthodontic tooth movement can be achieved using various strategies ranging from invasive surgical decortication1234 to non-invasive methods such as photobiomodulation and vibration.567 Among the surgery-assisted techniques, piezoelectric surgery is a minimally invasive method that has been introduced to the dental practice by Vercellotti et al.8 The rationale behind this approach is to minimize the invasiveness of selective decortications and overcome the heat generated by diamond and carbide burs, which could potentially lead to marginal osteonecrosis and impaired alveolar regeneration.910 Piezosurgery permits safer cuts while producing substantially less collateral tissue damage and results in better healing and reduced risk of postoperative necrosis.111213 The aim of using piezosurgery in conjunction with orthodontic therapy is to promote intensified alveolar resorption in order to reduce treatment time by enhancing the rate of tooth movement. While protocols have been standardized and successful clinical results have been obtained in animals and humans, the tissue response to and turnover rates of piezosurgery-assisted orthodontic tooth movement in humans have remained unknown.91415161718

We have treated a series of cases by using piezosurgery- assisted en-masse retraction and observed transient osseous outgrowths in 50% of these cases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to present and discuss the tissue response to piezoelectric surgery during en-masse retraction.

Sixteen patients (average age, 17.7 ± 3.4 years) whose treatment plan called for premolar extractions were treated using miniscrew-supported en-masse retraction after obtaining formal approval from the ethical committee of Baskent University (Ankara, Turkey). Patients were also expected to meet the following criteria: no systemic disease or drug use that would affect the tooth movement rate, minimum age at the beginning of retraction of 14 years and above, full permanent dentition, no previous orthodontic treatment history, and adequate oral hygiene. All of the patients received 0.018 × 0.025-inch incisor and canine brackets and 0.022 × 0.028-inch premolar brackets and molar tubes (MBT prescription; 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) for reducing friction during retraction. To further prevent friction at the posterior segment, bonding of the second molars were postponed until the end of retraction. When the maxillary dental arches were fully leveled and aligned, piezoelectric surgery was performed. Without reflecting a full periodontal flap, vertical soft-tissue incisions from canine-to-canine were made on the buccal side in the interradicular areas, at the midroot level under local infiltration anesthesia. Seven piezosurgical cuts were made with a depth-coded piezoelectric knife (SG1, VarioSurg; NSK, Hoffman Estates, IL, USA). These cuts were limited to a 3-mm depth, cutting both the cortical and medullary bones. Due importance was given to apply minimal pressure and avoid overheating. All of the soft-tissue incisions were then sutured with a 4–0 vicryl suture (Ethicon®; Johnson & Johnson, Irvine, CA, USA) and retained for a week. All surgical procedures were performed by an experienced periodontist (B.F.O.).

During the same session, en-masse retraction was initiated on a 0.016 × 0.022-inch stainless steel archwire with 7-mm-long power hooks (Ortho Organizers Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA) placed distal to the lateral incisors. Two miniscrews with 1.5- to 1.4-mm diameter and 7-mm length (AbsoAnchor; Dentos, Daegu, Korea) were placed between the roots of the second premolars and first molars on both sides. From these miniscrews, nickel-titanium closed coil springs (Ormco Corp., Orange, CA, USA), exerting 250 g of force per side, were attached to the power hooks anteriorly. Computed tomography (CT) images were acquired at the beginning and end of retraction to identify the nature of the outgrowths. Moreover, three-dimensional superimposition was performed with the best-fit method, and axial images acquired from the same height were compared.

After piezosurgery, eight of the 16 patients manifested osseous outgrowths during retraction on the surgical sites. These outgrowths appeared in the interradicular areas and in the middle third of the maxillary incisor and canine roots. The outgrowths were assumed to be alveolar tissue based on the fact that their structural properties presented continuity with the alveolar bone on the CT slices. The following cases are representative and illustrate the clinical and radiographical characteristics of tissue response in these cases.

In this case series, we found that 50% of the patients treated with piezosurgery-assisted en-masse retraction manifested torus-like osseous outgrowths on the buccal surface of the maxilla. CT images from the maxillary anterior region support the assumption that the true nature of these outgrowths is bony tissue. Our study, however, was not the first to show bone modeling after piezoelectric surgery. Preti et al.19 showed in a pilot study that bone around the implants treated with piezoelectric bone surgery exhibited an earlier increase in growth factors as well as consistently more active neo-osteogenesis. Di Alberti et al.20 also found that piezoelectric implant site preparation promoted better bone density and osteogenesis. Taken together with the findings of these studies in the literature, our findings lead to the conclusion that piezoelectric bone surgery seems to encourage neo-osteogenesis by anabolic bone modeling.

In the orthodontic literature, not only piezosurgery but also decortication with rotary instruments is associated with increased appositional activity. In the study by Baloul et al.,14 the levels of osteoprotegerin, a molecule responsible from inhibiting osteoclastogenesis, were elevated after decortication-assisted tooth movement. This shows that a coupled mechanism of bone resorption and apposition takes place during the earlier stages of treatment. However, osseous outgrowths were not reported after any of the surgery-assisted techniques other than piezosurgery in the literature. Ultrasonic vibrations are believed to support increased bone deposition after piezoelectric surgery because cell proliferation, migration, and matrix synthesis are promoted by vibrations.152122 Therefore, the amphoteric nature of piezoelectric surgery may inherently be causing a more extensive and diffuse alveolar remodeling process.16 Furthermore, heavy orthodontic forces acting on the alveolar bone through the anterior teeth might amplify this effect. Because none of the previous studies in the literature using piezoelectric surgery for rapid tooth movement reported a similar bone remodeling activity, we believe that heavy orthodontic forces are effective in the occurrence of these outgrowths.

Another explanation for these protrusions could be the blistering of adjacent soft tissues because of overheating.23 If the piezotome is used without sufficient coolant irrigation or if the tip is moved too deep for the irrigation to be effective, the bone and adjacent soft tissues can be burned. However, in our study, not only irrigation from the piezotome itself, but also a secondary syringe of water was used in order to prevent overheating. Moreover, the piezotome was only moved to a depth of 3 mm, which is relatively shallow. Furthermore, all of the surgical procedures were performed by an experienced periodontist. Therefore, if the surgical technique was imprecise right from the beginning, then all of the treated patients would be expected to present these outgrowths. In addition to these, CT images support the opinion that these outgrowths were indeed of bony origin. Therefore, the possibility of soft-tissue blistering can be ruled out. At this point, a bone biopsy could have provided a more accurate diagnosis; however, the ethical committee of our university rejected our request for a second surgery for only diagnostic and non-therapeutic reasons.

The most severe case of osseous outgrowths was seen in the patient who was a carrier for hepatitis C. In the study by Schiefke et al.,24 significantly reduced bone mineral density and alterations of bone metabolism were reported in non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C infection. This information, in concurrence with ours, shows that systemic diseases may have some effects on the results of dental surgeries and due importance must be given to the medical history of patients.

This case series presents a previously unreported osseous response to piezosurgery-assisted tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. Neo-osteogenesis after piezosurgery might be beneficial; however, this might be an unpleasing condition if the patient has increased gingival exposure upon smiling. Therefore, the amount of gingival display should be taken into consideration when deciding to perform piezosurgery on the anterior surface of the maxilla. The response is mostly transient; however, long-term follow-up should be encouraged because spontaneous regression of these formations is still unknown.