Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Midfacial Changes After Maxillary Skeletal Expander Application: A Retrospective...

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
• Craniofacial Biology
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Maxillary transverse deficiency is a common condition requiring orthopedic intervention.
• The Maxillary Skeletal Expander (MSE) is a device used for rapid maxillary expansion.
• Understanding the skeletal and dental effects of MSE is crucial for treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the skeletal and dental effects of the Maxillary Skeletal Expander (MSE) 2.
• To analyze changes in craniofacial structures using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
• To evaluate the pattern of midpalatal suture expansion and associated dental/alveolar changes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of CBCT images from 18 subjects (aged 12-16) with maxillary transverse deficiency treated with MSE 2.
• Measurements included interzygomatic distances, orbital distance, alveolar distances, dental distances, nasal cavity width, and midpalatal suture dimensions (ANS-PNS).
• Paired t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-expansion measurements (p<0.05 significance).

Main Results:

• A pyramidal skeletal expansion pattern was observed in the coronal zygomatic section, with significant increases in dental distance, alveolar distance, nasal cavity width, and interzygomatic distances.
• Dental tipping was minimal, and alveolar bone bending was limited, indicating favorable skeletal expansion.
• A nearly parallel split of the midpalatal suture was observed in the axial palatal section at both the anterior and posterior nasal spines.

Conclusions:

• MSE 2 application leads to favorable skeletal expansion outcomes.
• The treatment effectively reduces dentoalveolar side effects, such as excessive dental tipping.
• MSE 2 promotes a more parallel midpalatal suture split, contributing to predictable skeletal changes.