Effectiveness of piezoelectric-assisted orthodontic treatment : Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND

Orthodontic treatment offers numerous benefits, but prolonged treatment times can lead to increased costs and sequelae. Piezoelectric-assisted procedures like piezocision show promise in accelerating treatment, though their efficacy is not yet fully confirmed, nor are they widely adopted. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of piezocision for orthodontic patients.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 371 patients was conducted to compare piezocision with conventional orthodontic treatment. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Statistical analyses included mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022335350).

RESULTS

Piezocision significantly reduced treatment duration compared to conventional methods (MD = -39.60, 95% CI -59.67 to -19.52), though total treatment time was investigated by only one research group. Posttreatment pain was significantly higher in the piezocision group on day 1 (MD = 17.83, 95% CI 5.75-29.92) but showed no significant differences on day 7 (MD = 4.86, 95% CI -0.74 to 10.47). Despite similar pain levels by day 7, patients expressed preferences for conventional orthodontic treatment. The reduction rate of Little's irregularity index was more efficient in the piezocision group during the first month (MD = 1.58, 95% CI -0.13 to 3.29), with no significant differences at the end of alignment (MD = 1.04, 95% CI -0.06 to 2.15).

CONCLUSION

Piezocision resulted in reduced orthodontic treatment duration compared to conventional methods. However, considering the study limitations and patient preferences, future research with larger sample sizes and more RCTs is needed to validate these findings and assess the long-term clinical implications before widespread adoption.