Maxillary arch expansion along with fixed mechanotherapy using different expansion devices

Abstract

Malocclusions can exist in all the three planes of space i.e in antero – posterior, vertical and transverse plane. Transverse discrepancies can manifest as dental, skeletal or functional discrepancies. Maxillary expansion is one of the most common treatment modality for arch length augmentation, posterior crossbite correction and removing cross arch interferences. Skeletal correction is done by orthopedic expansion or surgical expansion. Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Head Gears, produces orthopedic correction. Severe skeletal discrepancies require surgical correction of underlying skeletal deformity by using SARPE (Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) or surgical expansion of palatal shelves by midline osteotomies. Dental correction can be done using Rapid expansion in growing children and by slow expansion using Quad Helix, W Arches, Coffin Spring and certain modification of Jack screw appliances in other cases. In patients treated with fixed mechanotherapy expansions can not only be achieved by Arch wires, auxillary Jockey arches, cross elastics etc. but also by slow or rapid expansion devices that can be amalgamated with fixed orthodontic treatment. In this article, the use of slow maxillary expansion appliances in treatment of the three patients with transverse maxillary deficiency and undergoing fixed mechanotherapy will be discussed. Keywords: Expansion