Comparing the efficiency of maxillary protraction using digital cooperation monitoring in ages 4–7 and 8–11: a prospective study

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This study compares the effectiveness of face mask therapy applied after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in 4- to 11-year-old patients with objective co-operation data collected using thermal sensors. The null hypothesis was that there would be no difference in the effectiveness of the maxillary protraction. Materials and method Initial and post-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken of patients with maxillary retrognathia, aged between 4 to 7 years (6.1 ± 1.88, n = 13) and 8 to 11 years (9.4 ± 1, n = 12) of age. An RME was performed for at least 10 days. The face mask protraction force was set to 450 g per side, and the recommended usage was 10 hr per day. TheraMon® microsensors were integrated into the face mask. Results The daily usage was significantly higher in the younger age group (8.9 ± 1.8 hr) compared to the older group (7.1 ± 0.9 hr). The SNA angle, A-Nasionperp (mm), ANB angle, Wits (mm), maxillary depth, ANS-Me (mm), the molar relationship (mm) and overjet (mm) significantly increased in both groups. Co-A (mm), the saddle angle, articular angle and UL-E Line (mm) showed a significant increase only in the older group, while the L1-A/Pg decreased significantly. The SNB angle decreased significantly only in the younger group. There was no statistically significant difference in the delta values between the two groups. Conclusion The null hypothesis was partly rejected since no difference was observed in the examined skeletal and soft tissue parameters.