Dental and skeletal changes on cone-beam computed tomography after rapid maxillary expansion using rapid palatal expander for the growing children

Abstract

Objectiveto evaluate the changes of maxillary bones and teeth after rapid expansion using rapid palatal expander (RPE). Subjects30 Vietnamese children in their growing ages between 6 and 16, with cervical vertebrae at CS2, CS3, CS4 stage on Cephalometric x-rays, were diagnosed with maxillary constriction according to Yonsei index. The patients were treated with the RPE and evaluated before and a month after the expansion on Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). ResultsAfter a month of post-expansion, the maxillary arch width increased by 2.35 ± 1.92 mm with p < 0.05 and when comparing with the mandible, it reached the normal value of Yonsei index (AWU6 – AWL6 was −0,0.33 ± 1.57 mm). The inter-molar width increased by 2.91 ± 0.54 with p < 0.001. No statistically significant difference of the palatal depth was found before and after expansion. ConclusionsRPE increased the maxillary arch and inter-molar widths and resolved the maxillary constriction in growing children on CBCT.