Periodontal Health Outcomes Following Mini-Screw-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion Versus Surgically Assisted Rapid...

Rapid palatal expansion (RPE) effectively corrects transverse maxillary deficiencies. For adults, MARPE (Mini-Screw-Assisted RPE) and SARPE (Surgically Assisted RPE) are two methods that can be used. However, their impact on periodontal health is not well known. Knowing these differential effects can help optimize treatment. The goal of the research was to assess gingival recession, alveolar bone loss, root resorption, and other periodontal health outcomes in patients undergoing MARPE and SARPE procedures.

This prospective comparative study included 40 adult patients (n = 20 per group) treated with either MARPE or SARPE. Clinical parameters (gingival recession, probing depth, clinical attachment level) and CBCT-derived radiographic parameters (buccal alveolar bone thickness/height, root resorption) were assessed at baseline (T0), postexpansion (T1), and 6 months postretention (T2). Statistical analysis used independent t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA (P < 0.05).

Both groups achieved comparable maxillary expansion (MARPE 6.2 ± 0.8 mm; SARPE 6.5 ± 0.7 mm; P = 0.45). However, the SARPE group showed significantly greater gingival recession (mean change at T2: SARPE 1.1 ± 0.3 mm vs. MARPE 0.3 ± 0.1 mm; P < 0.001) and more reduction in buccal alveolar bone thickness/height (mean change at T2: MARPE -0.2 ± 0.1 mm vs. SARPE -0.8 ± 0.2 mm; P < 0.01). Root resorption was numerically higher in SARPE but not statistically significant (P = 0.09). Probing depth and clinical attachment levels showed no significant differences between groups.

MARPE is associated with more favorable periodontal health outcomes, specifically less gingival recession and better buccal alveolar bone preservation, compared with SARPE in adult maxillary expansion. MARPE may offer a biologically gentler approach with reduced periodontal risks.