Long-term stability of maxillary and mandibular arch dimensions when using rapid palatal expansion and edgewise mechanotherapy in growing patients.

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the long-term stability of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) followed by full fixed edgewise appliances.MethodsThis study included 67 patients treated using Haas-type RPE and non-extraction edgewise appliance therapy at a single orthodontic practice. Serial dental casts were obtained at three different time points: pretreatment (T1), after expansion and fixed appliance therapy (T2), and at long-term recall (T3). The mean duration of the T1–T2 and T2–T3 periods was 4.8 ± 3.5 years and 11.0 ± 5.4 years, respectively. The dental casts were digitized, and the computed measurements were compared with untreated reference data.ResultsThe majority of treatment-related increases in the maxillary and mandibular arch measurements were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and greater than expected for the untreated controls. Although many measurements decreased postretention (T2–T3), the net gains persisted for all of the measurements evaluated.ConclusionsThe use of RPE therapy followed by full fixed edgewise appliances is an effective method for increasing maxillary and mandibular arch width dimensions in growing patients.