Table 5 Distribution and proportions of the recorded harms during the SAAO in the included papers along with the category of harm, the causative surgical intervention, and the treatment provided if mentioned

Gingival soft tissue harms

Gingival recession

n

1

Piezocision [2]

The patient was given the necessary care, then was excluded from the study because he neglected oral hygiene instructions, which caused this complication [2]

%

1.1%

Gingival bleeding or tearing

n

4

MOPs [41,42,43,44]

The bleeding was minor [41, 42]

The hemostasis was achieved by simple pressure application [43]

Full recovery from gingival tearing took about two weeks [44]

4.4%

Infection

n

2

Corticotomy [46]

The harm was managed by ordaining antibiotics for a week, and painkillers for 4 days [46]

%

2.2%

Piezocision [45]

The abscess receded within a week with antibiotics, analgesics, and oral rinsing agents [45]

Scarring

n

1

Piezocision, LAFC [45]

The two cases were asked to wait, then after about 8 months of follow-up, a spontaneous improvement was noted and only slight traces of scars remained [45]

%

1.1

Total

n

7

%

7.7%

Alveolar bone harms

Ectopic bony growths

n

1

Piezocision [47]

7 out of 15 patients suffering from this harm with no more information about this problem or how to solve it, except for an attached image that demonstrated this phenomenon [47]

%

1.1%

Bone sequestration

n

1

Piezocision [48]

The harm was solved without major sequelae [48]

%

1.1%

Total

n

2

%

2.2%

Dental harms

Tooth vitality loss

n

1

DAD [49]

3 out of 7 U3 (42,86%) were nonvital in the groups of traditional DAD and modified DAD, without any discoloration or pulpal pain in any of the distracted U3 [49]

%

1.1%

Tooth sensitivity

n

1

FTMPF [50]

The sensitivity lasted for 5 days [50]

%

1.1%

Total

n

2

%

2.2%

PROMs related harms

Pain

n

3

MOPs [41, 51], Piezocision [52]

The post-piezocision pain lasted for a few days [52]. The post-MOPs pain was mild [51]

%

3.3%

Discomfort

n

2

FTMPF [50], MOPs [43]

The post-FTMPF discomfort lasted for 2 days and then disappeared [50]

%

2.2%

Swelling

n

5

PAOO [53], FTMPF [50], Piezocision [52], MOPs [44, 51]

3 out of 20 patients in the PAOO with piezocision group experienced swelling [53]

The post-FTMPF swelling lasted for 2 days [50]

The post-piezocision swelling lasted for a few days [52]

The swelling was during the first post-MOPs week [44]

%

5.5%

Psychological harms

n

2

Corticision [54], MOPs [41]

Because fear of undergoing surgical intervention, one patient suffered from dizziness and hypotension. The case was managed and the patient was monitored until she returned to her normal condition. Later, she was contacted on the same day and confirmed that she was in good health without any symptoms [54]

The monthly repetition of MOPs caused fear since some patients were afraid and asked to not undergo the perforations [41]

%

2.2%

Total

n

8

%

8.8%

Other harms

Numbness

n

1

Corticotomy [46]

One patient had numbness in the corner of the upper lip, which lasted for approximately a month and then disappeared after being given nerve repair medication [46]

%

1.1%

Hematoma

n

2

PAOO [53], Flapless corticotomy using bur [55]

3 out of 20 patients in the PAOO with piezocision group experienced hematoma of the chin [53]

One patient developed a significant hematoma in the lower lip while applying flapless corticotomy using bur [55]

%

2.2%

Total

n

3

% of total

3.3%

Total

n

16

% of total

17.6%