Dental movement acceleration: Literature review by an alternative scientifc evidence method Angela Domínguez Camacho, Sergio Andres Velásquez Cujar Angela Domínguez Camacho, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad del Valle, Cali 76001000, Co- lombia Sergio Andres Velásquez Cujar, Department of Orthodontics Institución Universitaria Colegios de Colombia (UNICOC), Cali 76001000, Colombia Author contributions: Domínguez A designed the study and wrote the manuscript; Velásquez SA contributed to data collec- tion and edited the manuscript. Correspondence to: Angela Domínguez Camacho, DDS, Orthodontist, Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad Del Valle,Calle 4a.B # 36-00, Cali 76001000, Colombia. angela.Dominguezc@gmail.com Telephone: +57-2-3212100 Fax: +57-2-3169450 Received: January 24, 2014 Revised: July 11, 2014 Accepted: July 17, 2014 Published online: September 26, 2014 Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the majority of publications using effective methods to speed up orthodontic treatment and determine which publica- tions carry high evidence-based value. The literature published in Pubmed from 1984 to 2013 was reviewed, in addition to well-known reports that were not classi- fied under this database. To facilitate evidence-based decision making, guidelines such as the Consolida- tion Standards of Reporting Trials, Preferred Report- ing items for systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses, and Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Non- randomized Designs check list were used. The studies were initially divided into three groups: local application of cell mediators, physical stimuli, and techniques that took advantage of the regional acceleration phenom- ena. The articles were classifed according to their level of evidence using an alternative method for orthodontic scientific article classification. 1a: Systematic Reviews (SR) of randomized clinical trials (RCTs), 1b: Individual RCT, 2a: SR of cohort studies, 2b: Individual cohort study, controlled clinical trials and low quality RCT, 3a: SR of case-control studies, 3b: Individual case-control study, low quality cohort study and short time following split mouth designs. 4: Case-series, low quality case- control study and non-systematic review, and 5: Expert opinion. The highest level of evidence for each group was: (1) local application of cell mediators: the highest level of evidence corresponds to a 3B level in Prosta- glandins and Vitamin D; (2) physical stimuli: vibratory forces and low level laser irradiation have evidence level 2b, Electrical current is classifed as 3b evidence- based level, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field is placed on the 4 th level on the evidence scale; and (3) regional acceleration phenomena related techniques: for corti- cotomy the majority of the reports belong to level 4. Piezocision, dentoalveolar distraction, alveocentesis, monocortical tooth dislocation and ligament distraction technique, only had case series or single report cases (4 th level of evidence). Surgery first and periodontal distraction have 1 study at level 2b and corticision one report at level 5. Multiple orthodontic acceleration re- ports on humans were identifed by an alternative evi- dence level scale, which is a simple and accurate way of determining which techniques are better and have a higher rate of effectiveness. The highest level of evi- dence for a specifc procedure to accelerate orthodontic dental movement up to October 2013 was surgery frst followed by low level laser application, corticotomy and periodontal distraction located on level 2, recommen- dation grade b from this proposed scientifc evidence- based scale. © 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. Key words: Orthodontic movement; Evidence-based dentistry; Dental movement acceleration Core tip: Orthodontic systematic reviews of randomized clinical trials, meta analysis and meta analysis network are diffcult to develop due to a lack of high quality ran- domized clinical trials related to orthodontic therapies. The correct classifcation of the scientifc literature fol- REVIEW 151 September 26, 2014|Volume 4|Issue 3| WJM|www.wjgnet.com Submit a Manuscript: http://www.wjgnet.com/esps/ Help Desk: http://www.wjgnet.com/esps/helpdesk.aspx DOI: 10.5662/wjm.v4.i3.151 World J Methodol 2014 September 26; 4(3): 151-162 ISSN 2222-0682 (online) © 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. World Journal of Methodology WJM