Evaluation of Changes in Nasal Projection After Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion With 3dMD Face System

The most appropriate treatment option for maxillary expansion in adulthood due to increased cyanosis in sutures is surgically assisted maxillary expansion (SARME). Skeletal and dental changes are observed with SARME. Three-dimensional imaging techniques are gaining importance with the developing technology in evaluating the changes that occur as a result of the treatments applied. The aim of study was to evaluate the soft tissue changes occurring in the nasal projection after SARME in 3-dimensional analyzes during the expansion and post-retention processes. The study sample consisted of 19 patients with a transverse maxillary deficiency of more than 5 mm (11 female and 8 male). 3dMD Vultus software was used for measuring height and width of the philtrum, superior alar, nasal and subnasal width; nasal length, nasal projection, nasal bridge width, nasal tip protrusion and upper face height) before surgery (T0), after the expansion phase (T1), and 6 months postoperatively (T2). A significant difference was found only subnasal width between pre-treatment and post-retention values. Surgically assisted maxillary expansion operations alter the nasal projection and this study certified these results with 3dMD face system. 3dMD face technique is an effective imaging technique for evaluating the soft tissues changes after orthognathic surgeries.