Abstract
Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare, through bidimensional cephalometry, skeletal and dental changes obtained from a rapid maxillary expander (RME) and a Ni-Ti leaf spring expander (Leaf) and compare them with an untreated control group. Methods: Records consisted of lateral cephalograms obtained before and after maxillary expansion of patients that underwent orthodontic treatment at the Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences. The Leaf expander group consisted of 9 males (mean age = 7.5 ± 0.9 years old) and 11 females (mean age = 8.2 ± 0.6 years old). The RME group of the present study was composed of 11 males (mean age = 7.8 ± 0.6 years old) and 12 females (mean age = 8.1 ± 0.5 years old). Digital cephalograms were traced using Dolphin Imaging software v.11.1 (Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions; Los Angeles, CA, USA), which calculated all reported measurements. Each subject was assigned a random identification number, and the examiner was blinded to the subject when measuring. The difference between the two experimental times in all groups was evaluated using the Student’s t-test for dependent variables. The difference between the two evaluation times in each group for all the variables was used to perform a one-way ANOVA test between the three groups. Results: No statistically significant difference was noted, apart from the angle between the upper incisor and the SN and PP planes, which showed an average decrease of 3.25 and 2.55, respectively, and the angle between the lower incisors and the mandibular plane, which showed an average increase of 2.85 degrees. The one-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference between the three groups. Conclusions: It appears that the leaf expander and the RME present similar effects such as dental and skeletal changes.
Highlights
The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare, through bidimensional cephalometry performed on lateral radiographs, sagittal and vertical skeletal and dental changes obtained from an rapid maxillary expander (RME) and a leaf expander anchored to deciduous teeth and compare them with an untreated control group
A retrospective study on changes of the skeletal and dental structures before and after maxillary expansion obtained by an RME and a leaf spring expander (Leaf) expander was performed using lateral radiographs of subjects treated at Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore
The present study showed after RME and Leaf expander treatment a statistically significant spontaneous retraction of the upper incisors with a decreased in the U1 ∧ S-N
Summary
Orthopedic maxillary expansion can be achieved using different fixed appliances that use deciduous or permanent teeth or miniscrews for support to transmit a lateral force to the two palatal processes of the maxillary bone, producing the splitting of the midpalatal suture and a certain amount of widening of the maxillary sutures [1]. The force is generated by a transversal screw that delivers a variable amount of force depending on several factors such as the activation protocol, its relative position in the palatal vault and its type of support. Rapid maxillary expansion is a common activation protocol of the median screw that allows correcting maxillary hypoplasia and posterior crossbite in 1/3 weeks by activating the median screw of the appliance twice a day (total activation = 0.4–0.5 mm) [6]. Despite the different kinds of protocols, both of the maxillary expanders have similar orthopedic effects in growing subjects [7]
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