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CBCT and CAD-CAM technology to design a minimally invasive maxillary expander
Diego Sánchez-Riofrío1,2, María J Viñas3, Josep M Ustrell-Torrent4
1Universitat de Barcelona, Feixa Llarga s/n. Pavelló de Govern 2ª pl. Office 2.7, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain. diegool_86@hotmail.com.
BMC Oral Health
|November 5, 2020
Summary
This study introduces a new CAD/CAM maxillary expander with miniscrew anchorage and a 3D surgical guide, showing effective mid-palatal suture disjunction and improved nasal airway dimensions in growing patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics and Dental Technology
- Biomaterials and Medical Devices
- Craniofacial Development
Background:
- Conventional maxillary expanders show similar outcomes for mid-palatal suture disjunction and dentoalveolar changes.
- There is a need for advanced technologies to improve the efficacy of orthodontic treatments.
- This study focuses on a novel computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) device.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel CAD/CAM maxillary expander system for orthodontic treatment.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a miniscrew-supported expander with a 3D printed surgical guide.
- To assess changes in mid-palatal suture, palatal volume, and nasal airway dimensions.
Main Methods:
- A titanium grade V CAD/CAM maxillary expander was designed and fabricated.
- Miniscrews were used for bicortical anchorage, with placement guided by CBCT and a 3D printed surgical guide.
- Digital models and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were utilized for planning and assessment.
Main Results:
- Successful mid-palatal suture separation of 3.63 mm was achieved.
- Significant increases in palatal volume and intercanine/intermolar distances were observed.
- Expansion of nasal airways and changes in nasal morphology were confirmed via 3D imaging.
Conclusions:
- Digital technologies (3D models, CBCT, CAD/CAM) are crucial for developing advanced orthodontic devices.
- Further research is needed to optimize miniscrew placement for enhanced stability.
- This innovative approach offers benefits for both clinicians and patients by updating traditional orthodontic procedures.
