[Structural changes in the craniofacial complex induced by microimplant-supported skeletal expander - MSE. a review]

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Craniofacial Surgery
• Biomaterials

Context:

• Maxillary transverse deficiency presents a significant challenge in orthodontic and surgical correction.
• Miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expander (MARPE) offers a skeletal anchorage approach for maxillary expansion.
• Understanding the precise structural changes induced by MARPE is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Purpose:

• To systematically review and synthesize the existing literature on the craniofacial structural changes following MARPE in patients with maxillary transverse deficiency.
• To evaluate both skeletal and dentoalveolar alterations using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Summary:

• A systematic review of 13 articles using CBCT data analyzed MARPE's effects on craniofacial structures.
• Skeletal changes demonstrated generally parallel midpalatal suture disjunction, with pterygopalatine suture opening correlated to bicortical anchorage.
• Dentoalveolar analysis indicated an average buccal inclination of 3° for the upper first molars.

Impact:

• MARPE significantly influences craniofacial structures, promoting orthopedic expansion.
• This technique reduces adverse dental and periodontal effects compared to non-skeletal expansion methods.
• Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to validate these findings and long-term effects.