Skeletal and dentoalveolar modifications in adults with different sagittal facial patterns after personalized miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion: A prospective cone-beam computed tomography study

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the skeletal and dental modifications in adults with different sagittal facial patterns by a personalized miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander (pMARPE). Forty subjects (aged 18-28 years; 15 females and 25 males) with maxillary transverse deficiency were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (Class I, II, and III relationship) on the basis of their sagittal facial patterns. Each patient was treated with an individually customized expander. A similar expansion protocol was used for all patients. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were obtained before and after expansion. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze differences among 3 groups in skeletal, dentoalveolar, and periodontal changes (P<0.05). The success rates of expansion were higher in patients with a Class I or II relationship than those with a Class III relationship. Patients with a Class I or II relationship had greater changes in the anterior nasal spine and maxillary basal bone widths. A more parallel sutural opening in the anteroposterior direction was seen in those with a Class II relationship. The tipping of the maxillary first molar increased, and the buccal alveolar bone thickness decreased in all groups after expansion, especially in patients with a Class III relationship. The pMARPE effectively split the midpalatal suture among adults. However, midpalatal suture expansion was more difficult, and there were more dentoalveolar side effects and fewer orthopedic effects in patients with a Class III relationship than in those with Class I or II relationships.