EVALUATION OF DENTAL CHANGES AFTER MINI-IMPLANT ASSISTED RAPID MAXILLARY EXPANSION IN YOUNG ADULTS: CBCT STUDY

This study was carried out to evaluate dental changes in young adult patients with maxillary transverse deficiency by the MSE II appliance, via cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). A total of 24 patients (12 females and 12 males) with transverse maxillary deficiency were treated with MSE II (Biomaterials Korea, Inc., Seoul, Korea). They were aged 17 to 22. The MSE II device is composed of a central expansion screw and four tubes that guide the mini-implants. Mini implants measure 1.8mm in diameter and 13mm in length. The extended length of the mini-implants allows bicortical engagement of the palatal and nasal floor, reducing expansion force on the anchored teeth. Activation of the appliance varied with the patient's chronological age. We captured pretreatment CBCT scans (T1), and immediately post-expansion CBCT scans (T2). Measurements were performed to evaluate the dental effect after expansion. Within the limits of this study there is a significant increase in intermolar and interpremolar distance (IMD-IPD) and a significant change in the buccolingual inclination of maxillary first molar and maxillary first premolar for both sides right and left, however, the study shows there is no significant difference between males and females in the result for measurements after expansion. MARPE appliances, such as the MSE II, can be used to manage transverse maxillary deficiency in young adult patients while causing minimal dent alveolar side effects.