Severe Maxillary Protrusion Treated with Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Skeletal maxillary protrusion with severe crowding and excessive overjet presents complex orthodontic challenges.
• Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) is a viable treatment option for adult patients with such conditions.

Observation:

• A 25-year-old female patient with skeletal maxillary protrusion, severe crowding, and excessive overjet was treated with SARME.
• The procedure involved 8.0 mm of maxillary lateral expansion.
• Following SARME, the Hyrax appliance was replaced with an Anchor-Lock system for maxillary molar distalization.

Findings:

• The combined SARME and Anchor-Lock system treatment resulted in an acceptable and stable occlusion with an adequate interincisal relationship within 25 months.
• Long-term retention (over 4 years) demonstrated significant stability with minimal relapse.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential of SARME combined with the Anchor-Lock system for achieving favorable long-term occlusal outcomes in complex maxillary protrusion cases.
• The technique may offer a stable solution, potentially avoiding relapse even without complete bone healing before subsequent orthodontic movements.