Palatal bone resorption in bone-anchored maxillary expander treatment

Abstract

Evaluate the effect of bone-anchored maxillary expander (BAME) treatment on palatal cortical bone in adolescent patients. Forty-two patients were assigned to two groups: treatment and control. CBCT scans were obtained for patients at baseline and 12 months later. Landmarks were placed between the second maxillary premolar and first maxillary molar following the palatal plate. Morphometric analysis of the palate was carried out. Individual differences in terms of the response to BAME treatment were assessed. Mean distance measurements between the six counterpart landmarks in BAME and control groups at T1 and T2 showed that the palatal perimeter increases after 12 months in the BAME group but not in the control group. There were very mild indentations in the area where the onplants were located in both groups. These indentations were not to be considered clinically significant. BAME treatment does not cause significant palatal bone resorption.