Factors related to microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expansion in teenagers and young adults: A cone-beam computed tomography study

Abstract

For patients with maxillary transverse deficiency, selecting an appropriate therapeutic method is important for the treatment effect and prognosis. Our study aimed to explore factors related to microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) in teenagers and young adults using cone-beam computed tomography. Twenty-five patients who underwent MARPE were included in this retrospective study from February 2014 to June 2019. Midpalatal suture density (MPSD) ratio, midpalatal suture maturation (MPSM), bone effect, dentoalveolar effect, and dental effect in maxillary first molar were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the MPSD ratio, MPSM, age, and the expansion amount generated by MARPE. Twenty-five patients (mean age, 19.84 ± 3.96 years; range, 15-29 years) with maxillary transverse deficiency were analyzed. Age was negatively correlated with bone expansion, alveolar expansion, and alveolar change (all P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between MPSM and nasal cavity variation, bone expansion, and alveolar change (all P<0.05). The bone expansion was negatively correlated with MPSD ratio 3 (r= -0.417; P<0.05) and MPSD ratio 4 (all P<0.05). Age, MPSM, and MPSD ratio were significantly related to the MARPE effect. Age, MPSM, and MPSD ratio should be considered when choosing MARPE.