Addressing research gaps on rapid palatal expansion effects on voice function in patients with cleft and extending the European Laryngological Society 2001 guideline

Slow and rapid maxillary expansion in patients with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate: a cephalometric evaluation Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare the dentoskeletal effects of the slow (SME) and rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in patients with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCLP). Methods: The sample comprised 46 patients with BCLP (34 male and 12 female) with a mean age of 9,2 years. They were randomly assigned into two groups: Group RME comprised 23 patients with posterior crossbites treated with Hyrax or Haas appliances. Group SME comprised 23 patients with posterior crossbites treated with quad-helix appliance. Both expansion modalities were performed prior to secondary alveolar bone graft procedure. Conebeam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed before expansion (T1) and after

To determine the three-dimensional changes of the nasal septum (NS), alveolar width, alveolar cleft volume, and maxillary basal bone following rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in consecutive patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). A retrospective investigation was conducted based on the analysis of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data of 40 consecutive patients with UCLP (mean age 11.1 ± 2.2 years). Scans were acquired prior to RME (T0) and after removal of the expander (T1) before graft surgery. A three-dimensional analysis of the effects of RME on the nasal septum, alveolar width, alveolar cleft volume, and maxillary basal bone was performed. No changes in the NS deviation were observed following RME (P > .05). Significant increases of the alveolar transverse dimension were found in the anterior (14.2%; P < .001) and posterior (7.7%; P < .001) regions as well as in the volume of the alveolar cleft (19.6%; P < .001). No changes in the basal bone dimensions and morphology were observed (P > .05). Following RME, no changes were observed in the NS and maxillary basal bones of patients with UCLP despite the significant gain in the anterior and posterior alveolar width and the increase of the alveolar cleft defect. Clinicians should be aware that maxillary changes following RME in patients with UCLP are restricted to the dentoalveolar region.

Buccal bone changes after rapid maxillary expansion in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate

Residents’ journal review

ObjectiveTo compare subjective pain perception and local inflammatory response during rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in patients with and without cleft defects.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingInstitutional clinical setting.ParticipantsSixteen patients were equally allocated to cleft and non-cleft groups (mean age: 9.5 ± 1.9 and 10.5 ± 1.2 years, respectively).InterventionsAll patients underwent tooth-borne rapid maxillary expansion using a standardised activation protocol of two turns per day (0.5 mm/day).Main Outcomes MeasuresLocal inflammatory response was assessed by measuring prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, while subjective pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Measurements were recorded at baseline (T0), 1 day after the first activation (T1), at 7 days (T2), 14 days (T3), and 5 days after the final activation (T4).ResultsPGE2 peaked at T1 in both groups (cleft = 91.91 ± 48.52 pg/ml, non-cleft = 95.20 ± 53.98 pg/ml), then declined through T4. The values were higher in the non-cleft group, but not significant. VAS scores were significantly higher in the non-cleft group compared to the cleft group at T1 (4.50 ± 0.76 and 3.25 ± 1.67, respectively; p = 0.021), with no significant differences at T2 and T3. By T4, pain levels were minimal in both groups. Pearson correlation demonstrated a weak association between PGE2 levels and VAS scores.ConclusionsPatients without cleft experienced higher subjective pain only after initial RME activation, while local inflammatory responses were comparable between groups throughout treatment.Clinical Trial RegistrationThe Clinical Trials Registry- India (CTRI/2024/06/068906).

To explore the biomechanical effects of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) on the craniofacial skeleton with cleft palate. A finite element model of a patient's skull with cleft lip and palate (CLP) was generated using data from spiral computed tomographic (CT) scans. Finite elemental analysis (FEA) was performed to depict the physiological changes and stress distribution in craniofacial structures loaded with orthopedic forces that created 5 mm of displacement on the region of the maxillary first premolar and first molar crown. A 14-year-old girl with left complete unilateral CLP was included in this study. Spiral CT was carried out prior to any treatment. Three-dimensional (3D) features of displacement and stress distribution were analyzed following application of transverse orthopedic force. Marked amount of displacement and deformation occurred in the dental region. Asymmetric displacement and deformation of UCLP under RPE were evident. The stress generated by RPE was dispersed around the cleft palate and nasal cavity, and was distributed at the buttress of the maxilla-inferior border of the nasal cavity, outboard of the orbit, and central frontal bone near the nasion. Application of RPE to UCLP patients induces a pyramid-like displacement of the nasomaxillary complex along with fan-like expansion of the upper dental arch. The uniqueness of RPE with UCLP, however, lies in the asymmetric expansion and dispersed stress distribution around the lateral maxilla buttress and outboard of orbit.

Rapid palatal expansion in a patient with cleft lip and palate.

Analysis of the maxillary dental arch after rapid maxillary expansion in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.

Nasal breathing is a requirement for proper growth and development of the craniofacial complex. Inadequacy of the nasal airway from obstruction such as from nasal septal deviation (NSD) can affect craniofacial development. Further investigation of the possibility of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) correcting NSD would be valuable, considering the undesirable sequelae of NSD on nasal breathing, which can consequently affect craniofacial development. A systematic review of the effect of RME treatment on NSD was conducted. Electronic database searches were conducted until April 2015 using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCTR), Cochrane Methodology Register (CMR), Database of s of Reviews of Effects (DARE), American College of Physicians Journal Club (ACP Journal Club), Health Technology Assessments (HTA), and NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED). MeSH terms used in database searches were ‘nasal septum,’ ‘palatal expansion,’ and ‘maxillary expansion,’ ‘orthodontic device,’ and ‘palatal expansion technique.’ The methodological quality of studies was reviewed using methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). Only two studies were finally selected and reviewed. Both studies had significant methodological limitations. One study reported a significant straightening of the nasal septum in the middle and the inferior third of nasal cavity from RME in children aged 5 to 9 years. The other study reported no positional change in the nasal septum from RME in adolescent orthodontic patients. Thus far, the limited available (moderate risk of bias) evidence suggests a potentially positive effect on the nasal septum asymmetry during childhood, but no significant change in adolescence from RME in patients with NSD. The clinical significance of reported changes could be considered questionable.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40510-015-0084-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dentoalveolar effects of rapid maxillary expansion in children with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate in comparison with non-cleft patients. Methods: The experimental group (EG) was composed of 25 patients with unilateral and complete cleft lip and palate (9 males and 15 females) with a mean age of 10.6 years. The control group (CG) comprised of 27 patients without cleft lip and palate (14 males and 13 females) with a mean age of 9.1 years. Dental models of the maxillary dental arch were obtained immediately preexpansion (T1) and 6 months post-expansion (T2) at the time of appliance removal.

Aim: The aim is to evaluate the effects of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) in children with complete unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate (UCCLP/BCCLP), compared with noncleft patients. Materials and Methods: This study includes 45 patients aged between 8 and 11 years old (15 patients with UCCLP; mean age: 9 years 2 months, 15 patients with BC-CLP; mean age: 9 years, 15 patients with noncleft; mean age: 9 years 1 month), in Ege University, Department of Orthodontics. RPE was applied before secondary alveolar grafting. Posteroanterior cephalograms were taken before and after expansion. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the differences among the groups, whereas the paired t-test was used to evaluate the changes in each group. Results: In all groups, RPE causes a significant increase of the internasal dimension and maxillary width (Ln-Ln', Mx-Mx'). In the cleft groups, especially in the bilateral CLP group, the nasal width (Ln-Ln') and maxillary width (Mx-Mx') show a statistically significant increase according to the control group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the unilateral CLP group shows an increase according to the control group (P < 0.001).(Um-Um') and (Lm-Lm') show a statistically significant increase all in three groups compared before the treatment (P < 0.001).(Um-Um') show the most increase in bilateral CLP group (P < 0.001). In the bilateral CLP group, (Zyg-Zyg'), (Cdl-Cdl'), (Go-Go') show a statistically significant increase (P < 0.001). The control and unilateral CLP group also show an increase, but the unilateral CLP group is not found statistically significant. Conclusion: When the facial morphologies were evaluated after RPE, the facial width measurements of the bilateral CLP patients showed a greater increase than the unilateral CLP and control group. Nasal width measurements were wider in cleft groups compared to the control group contributing to a widened airway, which may have an effect on breathing and speaking in cleft patients. More studies are needed.

Maxillary expansion is one of the treatment options for the correction of the skeletal constriction of the upper jaw. However, evidence regarding the best treatment effects with the use of rapid vs. slow maxillary expansion in the early adolescence period (i.e., between the age of 12 and 16 years) is still lacking in the available literature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of rapid and slow maxillary expansion in treating posterior skeletal constriction, and to compare the 2 techniques in terms of skeletal and dentoalveolar changes by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The sample consisted of 34 patients (15 males and 19 females) suffering from posterior skeletal constriction. They were randomly allocated either to the rapid maxillary expansion (RME) group (17 patients aged 13.76 ±0.32 years) or to the slow maxillary expansion (SME) group (17 patients aged 14.02 ±0.28 years). The skeletal and dental landmarks, and changes in the posterior dimensions were examined using CBCT radiographs at the beginning of treatment (T1) and at the end of the observation period (T2). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of skeletal and dental changes except the amount of change in the inter-premolar width at the root apex, which was greater in the SME group (p = 0.007), as well as the amount of change in the skeletal palatal width in the molar region, which was also greater in the SME group (p = 0.008). Both maxillary expansion protocols were effective in treating posterior skeletal constriction. The average changes in the skeletal and dental widths were generally similar in both groups. Therefore, SME can be considered as an alternative to RME in patients with skeletal maxillary constriction in the early adolescence period.

Biomechanical effects of maxillary expansion on a patient with cleft palate: A finite element analysis.

Introduction: Cleft Lip and Palate (CLAP) is one of the most frequent craniofacial anomalies. The management of patients with CLAP requires several repair procedures for the soft palate, the primary and secondary bony palate, the alveolar ridge, the lips and the nose. These patients often present with a maxillary transverse deficit responsible for maxillary endognathy which must be corrected for a harmonious development of the maxillomandibular complex. The objective of our work was to evaluate the efficacy of slow, rapid and surgical maxillary expansion in patients with sequelae of CLAP following a systematic review protocol. Materials and methods: Four databases were searched: PubMed / MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library and EBSCOhost, using the keywords present in the MeSH according to the equation [Maxillary expansion] AND [Cleft lip and palate]. The selection of articles included all studies published since January 2010 and for which the full text is available, such as meta-analyzes, randomized and non-randomized controlled clinical trials, case-control studies and prospective and retrospective studies. Results: Among 1107 references only 8 studies met our inclusion criteria. Following analysis of these, we concluded that there is no significant difference between rapid maxillary expansion and slow maxillary expansion in patients with unilateral CLAP, the expansion observed on the side of the cleft is larger than that seen on the healthy side. Surgically assisted expansion is much more reserved for subjects at the end of growth, having unilateral or bilateral CLAP and presenting anterior or posterior lateral crossbones. The results of our systematic review also showed that maxillary expansion in patients with CLAP results in substantial dentoalveolar compensation. Conclusion: The efficacy of maxillary expansion in patients with sequelae of CLAP is real and alone in some cases allows the restoration of a normal transverse dimension; sometimes in combination with maxillary protraction to correct the anteroposterior deficit.

BackgroundOral breathing and maxillary deficiency are often associated with steep mandibular plane angle, and retrognathic mandible compared with the faces of healthy controls. Some studies suggested that after rapid maxillary expansion, improvement in nasal breathing and repositioning of mandible with transitory increasing of facial height and, in some cases, spontaneous forward repositioning might occur. The abovementioned mandibular effects could contribute to enlarge oropharynx volume with repositioning of tongue and soft palate with an improvement of upper airway volume after treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate by cone beam computed tomography the role of oropharyngeal volume and mandibular position changes after rapid maxillary expansion in patients showing improved breathing pattern confirmed by polysomnography exam.MethodsThe final sample of this retrospective study comprised 14 Caucasian patients (mean age 7.6 years) who undergone rapid maxillary expansion with Haas-type expander banded on second deciduous upper molars. Cone beam computed tomography scans and polysomnography exams were collected before placing the appliance (T0) and after 12 months (T1). Mandibular landmarks localization and airway semiautomatic segmentation on cone beam computed tomography scans allowed airway volume computing and measurements.ResultsNo significant differences were found between oropharyngeal airway changes and mandibular displacement after rapid maxillary expansion in growing patients.ConclusionsThe suggested improvement in upper airway and breathing after rapid maxillary expansion should be further related to different compartments of airway such as rhinopharynx and nasal cavity.