Effect of Tipping-related Movement on Heterogeneity in Micro-osteoperforation-assisted Canine Retraction

Abstract

AIM: The objective of this study was to explore whether force-related and measurement-related factors could explain between-study heterogeneity in the first-month effects of micro-osteoperforation-assisted canine retraction.

METHODS: First-month canine retraction outcomes were extracted for the micro-osteoperforation and control groups from randomized clinical trials evaluating micro-osteoperforation-assisted conventional canine retraction. Meta-regression was performed to examine the contribution of two moderators to between-study heterogeneity: the proximity of the applied force to the canine center of resistance and measurement-related factors affecting first-month canine retraction rates.

RESULTS: Nine randomized clinical trials were included in the meta-regression. Adjustment for force-related and measurement-related moderators explained most, if not all, of the between-study heterogeneity in first-month canine retraction rates (acceleration model, R² = 100%; MOP-only model, R² = 100%; control-only model, R² = 91.47%). Residual heterogeneity was reduced to 0% in the acceleration and MOP-only models and to 44.33% in the control-only model.

CONCLUSION: Biomechanical and measurement-related factors may partially explain the variability in first-month canine retraction rates across micro-osteoperforation-assisted studies. The proximity of the applied force to the center of resistance and the selection of the reference tooth should be considered when designing, interpreting, and comparing clinical trials on micro-osteoperforation-assisted canine retraction.