Skeletal Changes after Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A CBCT Study

<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The purpose of this study was to use cone-beam computed tomography to quantitatively evaluate the skeletal effects of rapid maxillary expansion and orthodontic treatment, with a specific interest in evaluating whether the skeletal changes achieved by RME will maintain throughout orthodontic treatment. <strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty consecutive patients (16 boys, 14 girls; mean age, 13.9 ± 1.8 years) who required RME with Hyrax appliances as part of their comprehensive orthodontic treatment were studied. Measurements before and after RME, and after orthodontic treatment, of palatal and buccal maxillary widths, palatal alveolar angle, nasal width, nasal floor width, and maxillary sinus width at C1, P1, P2, and M1 were compared by using Wilcoxon signed rank, Kruskal-Wallis, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Pearson correlation analyses were also performed (α = 0.05). <strong>Results: </strong>Widths measured for the maxillary buccal and palatal cortical plates post expansion and at the end of orthodontic treatment were statistically similar (P >.05). Nasal width and nasal floor width measured post-expansion to the end of orthodontic treatment were statistically similar (P >.05). Alveolar tipping statistically significantly increased (P <.001) with RME and then statistically significantly decreased when measured at the end of orthodontic treatment (P =.014). Increased age was significantly correlated with increased alveolar tipping (P =.002). <strong>Conclusions</strong>: Skeletal width increases of the maxillary alveolar ridge and nasal cavity were maintained after RME.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Ho, Chandler

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rungcharassaeng, Kitichai
• Caruso, Joseph M.
• Leggitt, V. Leroy

• Orthodontics and Orthodontology
• Orthodontics; Orthodontics--Methods
• Cone-beam Computed Tomography
• Rapid Maxillary Expansion
• Orthodontic Treatment

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/164

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1163