This Meta-analysis was performed to examine the clinical effect and risk of minimally invasive corticotomy in the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement.

Literature was searched in some databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, Wanfang and CQVIP. The search was limited to literature before February, 2019. Data were extracted and quality assessed independently and in duplicate by two researchers. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to pool results using a fixed or random effects model according to heterogeneity. The Meta-analysis was performed using Stata software (version 11.0) .

A total of 9 studies (5 randomized controlled trials and 4 clinical controlled trials) with 171 patients were included in this Meta-analysis. Our Meta-analysis yielded a statistically significant pooled difference in canine retraction [WMD = 0.36, 95% CI (0.19, 0.53) ] and overall treatment time [WMD = -5.41, 95% CI (-6.63, -4.18) ]. However, the result of the mesial movement of first molar showed no statistically significant difference [WMD = -0.41, 95% CI (-0.88, 0.06) ]. The risk of canine root resorption did not show significant changes [WMD = -0.20, 95% CI (-0.48, 0.88) ].

The current study demonstrated that minimally invasive corticotomy could accelerate the orthodontic tooth movement at early stage and shorten the treatment time. The mesial movement of the first molar was not obvious. It did not increase the risk of canine root resorption.