ABSTRACT
Objective: to evaluate the dentoskeletal effects of maxillary skeletal expander (MSE) in adult orthodontic patients, using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).
Patients and Methods: The current study was conducted on 14 adult orthodontic patients (4 males and 10 females), with their age ranged from 18 to 21 years, treated with a special type mini-implant assisted rapid palatal expander called, MSE (Maxillary Skeletal Expander) to correct transverse maxillary deficiency. The CBCT images were performed before the start of the orthodontic expansion (T1) and 3 months after the last activation (T2). Paired t-test, and descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the amount and the pattern of the mid-palatal suture opening, the total amount of maxillary expansion and the change in the inter-molar distance and molar inclination.
Results: Four patients were dropped-out for different reasons, so, the statistical analysis was performed only on 10 patients (3 males, 7 females). The midpalatal suture split by 2.96mm and 2.64mm at the anterior nasal spine (ANS) and the posterior nasal spine (PNS) respectively. The maxillary width showed increase by 2.99 mm between the right and left zygomaticomaxillary sutures. The inter-molar distance and the molar inclination showed increase by 5.3 mm and 5.4o respectively.
Conclusions: MSE is an efficient appliance for producing rapid palatal expansion and mid-palatal suture opening in adult orthodontic patients and can be used as an alternative to the surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion. MSE expansion affects the involved molars, causing increased inter-molar distance with limited buccal tipping.