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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Finite Element Analysis Model for Assessing Expansion Patterns from Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion
Published on: October 20, 2023
Transversal Skeletal Stability With Transpalatal Arch and Fixed Orthodontic Appliance After Surgically Assisted Rapid
Ylri Hirokatsu Sato1, Alexandre Augusto Ferreira da Silva1, Max Domingues Pereira2
1Graduate Program in Translational Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of transpalatal arch retention, fixed orthodontic appliances, and their combination on skeletal stability following surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME).
Methods:
Sixty-five patients were evaluated using digitized maxillary models at 3 time points: preoperatively, at 4 and 10 months after the completion of expansion. They were distributed into 4 groups: group without fixed orthodontic appliances and without transpalatal arch retention (NF-NT), group without fixed orthodontic appliances and with transpalatal arch retention (NF-T), group with fixed orthodontic appliances and without transpalatal arch retention (F-NT), and group with fixed orthodontic appliances and with transpalatal arch retention (F-T). The evaluated variables were palatal area, volume, and height.
Results:
No statistically significant differences in palatal area were observed between groups (P=0.368). A significant reduction in palatal area was observed within the NF-NT, NF-T, and F-NT groups (P<0.05), but not in the F-T group (P=0.087). For palatal volume, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups (P=0.754), and no significant within-group changes were identified (P>0.05). No statistically significant differences in palatal height were observed between groups (P=0.126), and no significant within-group changes were identified (P>0.05).
Conclusions:
The transpalatal arch, fixed orthodontic appliance, or their combination did not demonstrate a significant benefit in maintaining maxillary skeletal stability in terms of palatal area, volume, or height within 10 months after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion, suggesting that these retention strategies may not be necessary for short-term stability.
