Does the time-point of orthodontic space closure initiation after tooth extraction affect the incidence of gingival cleft development? A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Gingival clefts (GCs) develop frequently during orthodontic space closure and may compromise the treatment outcome. This study assessed whether the time-point of orthodontic space closure initiation, after permanent tooth extraction, affects the incidence of GC.

Methods: In 25 patients requiring bilateral premolar extraction because of orthodontic reasons, one premolar, chosen at random, was extracted 8 weeks before space closure initiation ("delayed movement," DM), whereas the contralateral premolar was extracted 1 week before ("early movement," EM) ("treatment group").