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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Finite Element Analysis Model for Assessing Expansion Patterns from Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion
Published on: October 20, 2023
Effects of facemask treatment anchored with miniplates after alternate rapid maxillary expansions and constrictions;
Demet Kaya1, Ilken Kocadereli, Bahadir Kan
1Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey. ortodem@hotmail.com
Objective:
To describe the dentoskeletal and soft tissue effects of facemask treatment anchored with miniplates after alternate rapid maxillary expansions and constrictions (Alt-RAMEC) in maxillary retrusion patients.
Materials And Methods:
The sample consisted of 15 patients with a mean skeletal age of 11.6 ± 1.59 years undergoing 8 weeks of Alt-RAMEC followed by maxillary protraction. Three hundred fifty to 400 g of force per side was applied to the facemask from the titanium miniplates inserted on the lateral nasal wall of the maxilla. Total treatment time was 9.9 ± 2.63 months. Treatment changes were evaluated cephalometrically and analyzed by means of the dependent t-test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test.
Results:
The miniplates withstood the orthopedic forces exerted during the treatment. Cephalometric findings showed that the maxilla moved forward by 2 mm, with an 0.8° counterclockwise rotation and without maxillary incisor movement. The mandible moved slightly in a downward and backward direction (1.2°). The inclinations of the mandibular incisors decreased significantly (2°). Statistically significant increases were observed in the vertical dimension (1°-1.3°). Soft tissue changes were more marked in the upper lip and soft tissue pogonion than in the lower lip.
Conclusions:
This treatment approach can offer an advantage for correcting mild/moderate maxillary retrusion in Class III patients.
