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[Cone-beam CT evaluation of nasomaxillary complex and upper airway following rapid maxillary expansion]
Lei Li1, Suqing Qi2, Hongwei Wang1
1Department of Orthodontics, Hebei Eye Hospital, Xingtai Hebei 054001, China.
Objectives:
To evaluate the naso-maxillary complex width and pharyngeal airway volume changes after rapid maxillary expansion (RME).
Methods:
Thirty-five patients were selected (18 males, 17 females, mean age, 12.1 ± 1.1 years). All patients underwent orthodontic treatment with Hyrax palatal expanders. Cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan was taken before treatment (T0), 16 days (T1) and three months (T3) after RME. Naso-maxillary complex width and pharyngeal airway volume were measured.
Results:
After treatment the width of piriform aperture and maxillary width were significantly increased compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05). Three months after RME, no statistical difference was found in maxillary width compared with that before treatment. The nasopharyngeal volume significantly increased by 29.9% compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05), and the volume remained relatively stable after three months.
Conclusions:
RME resulted in a significant increase in the naso-maxillary complex width and nasopharyngeal volume.
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