Condylar Changes in Children with Posterior Crossbite after Maxillary Expansion: Tridimensional Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Craniofacial Development

Background:

• Functional posterior crossbite (FPXB) is a common pediatric dental issue.
• Understanding its effects on condylar position is crucial for treatment planning.
• Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is a common treatment for FPXB.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in condylar position after RME in children with FPXB.
• To compare condylar positions before and after RME using 3D analysis.
• To assess the impact of RME on craniofacial structures.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two Caucasian children with FPXB underwent RME using a Haas appliance.
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were taken before (T0) and 12 months after (T1) RME.
• 3D Slicer software was used for image processing and condylar position analysis.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant changes in condylar position were observed between T0 and T1, except for the transversal axis.
• Condyles showed a trend towards anterior (y-axis) and lateral (x-axis) movement.
• A non-significant downward (z-axis) movement of the condyles was noted.

Conclusions:

• RME treatment does not significantly alter condylar position in growing patients with FPXB.
• The minor transversal changes suggest a potential, though not statistically significant, effect on lateral positioning.
• Further research may explore long-term effects and different RME protocols.