The effects of maxillary expansion using a quad-helix appliance during the deciduous and mixed dentitions

Ten subjects, five in the deciduous dentition and five in the mixed dentition (mean age = 6 years 9 months), had functional posterior cross-bites successfully corrected with fixed lingual arch wire expansion appliances of the quad-helix design. The appliance, in the context of "early" treatment, produced midpalatal suture separation on each subject as evidenced on occlusal radiographs. While the relative orthopedic and orthodontic changes were not determined, the maxillary intermolar and intercanine transverse measurements showed significant increases in all subjects, with mean values of +5.3 mm. and +4.1 mm., respectively. The active phase of treatment averaged 30 days and 1.1 adjustments for the desired expansion to be achieved. Incorporating a standard 6-week retention period, the total appliance wear time had a mean value of 75 days. Following a 3-month postretention adjustment period, relapse of the intermolar and intercanine transverse dimensions presented mean decreases of -1.5 mm. and -1.9 mm., respectively. The relapse potential was successfully compensated for by overexpansion of 2 to 3 mm. during the active phase of treatment. No significant differences were demonstrated between the deciduous- and mixed-dentition groups during the course of maxillary expansion with the quad-helix appliance.