Changes of the upper airway and bone in microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expansion: A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of maxillary expansion and upper airway structure after microimplant assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: This retrospective study included 19 subjects (15 females and 4 males) aged 15-29 years old (mean, 19.95 ± 4.39 years) with maxillary transverse deficiency treated with MARPE. CBCT was performed at the initial diagnosis and 3 months after MARPE treatment. Measurements were taken to evaluate the amount of total expansion, skeletal expansion, and dental expansion at the maxillary first premolar (P1), second premolar (P2), first molar (M1), second molar (M2) regions and upper airway changes. RESULTS: After MARPE treatment, the maxillary skeletal base expansion, skeletal expansion, alveolar expansion and dental expansion were achieved at the P1, P2, M1, M2 region. The nasopharyngeal volume significantly increased 8.48% after MARPE treatment compared with that before the treatment (P < 0.05). The change of nasal lateral width (NLW) was also significantly different before and after MARPE (P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant change in the oropharyngeal, palatopharyngeal, glossopharyngeal and airway total volume (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MARPE can produce more transverse bone expansion, relieve maxillary transverse deficiency and improve upper airway ventilation.

Stability of transversal correction with hybrid maxillary expansion appliance in bone and tegumental piriformis opening in relation to bone age and maturation of the midpalatal suture

“…Most articles and systematic reviews ( 1 , 26 , 27 ) which evaluated the skeletal and tegumental tissue in relation to maxillary expansion with a hybrid appliance, had the results evaluated in the short term, ranging from 3 months ( 2 , 7 , 28 ) to 6 months ( 26 , 27 , 29 ) on average, different from the present study that evaluated the changes in these structures in the long term with 8 months of retention. In these studies, the results showed that the changes that occurred in the MPS and in the anterior region of the nasal cavity were the result of the RME ( 9 , 30 ).…”

“…Yi et al . ( 2 ) evaluated from CBCT the changes in mini-implant-assisted maxillary expansion and airway structures in 19 patients aged between 15 and 29 years. CBCT was evaluated before installing the appliance and 3 months after completion of the expansion.…”

“…The evaluation of transverse skeletal changes of the maxilla after conventional rapid expansion (without bone anchorage), in a hybrid (with bone anchorage) and surgical form and its effects on the airways and nasal cavity in the short, medium and long term, is not actual ( 1 , 2 ). Maxillary atresia should be treated as soon as possible to encourage correct growth of the maxillomandibular complex ( 3 , 4 ).…”

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Nasal Airway Changes after Treatment with C-Expander

“…It has been proven that CBCT has low radiation dose and high accuracy [30]. Due to ethical reasons, lots of researchers took a 3-month interval to take it again [2,31].…”

Sino-Nasal Changes Associated with Midfacial Expansion: An Overview

“…Similarly, in older patients (mean age 20 yrs. ), Yi et al [28] found that although MARME produced both skeletal and dento-alveolar expansion, there were no changes in the oropharyngeal, palatopharyngeal, and glossopharyngeal regions and the total airway volume remained unaltered on 3D CBCT scans. In another study [29], it was reported that MARME produced an increase in nasal cavity and nasopharyngeal volumes, associated with bony expansion of the nasal floor and maxillary width in young adults (mean age 22.5 yrs.).…”