title: Short- and long-term effect of surgically assisted maxillary expansion on nasal airway size.
abstract: Transverse maxillary deficiency (TMD) may reduce nasal dimensions and lead to oral breathing. The objective of the present study was to investigate the short- and long-term effects of surgically assisted maxillary expansion on nasal airway size of patients with TMD. Eleven subjects with TMD and skeletal maturity were submitted to posterior rhinomanometry to determine the minimum nasal cross-sectional area (CSA) before and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Subjects were also investigated concerning their habitual diurnal and nocturnal breathing mode (oral, nasal, and oronasal). A statistically significant increase in mean CSA was observed in the early postoperative period (3 months), followed by a decrease to the preoperative levels in the subsequent periods (6 and 12 months). No variations were observed in the breathing mode for 63.6% of the subjects. The results showed that, in the short-term, maxillary expansion most frequently produced an increase in nasal patency. However, it was observed that the effect did not persist over time in most subjects.
authors.affiliation: Speech Pathology/Audiology Department, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru-SP, Brazil. gfelix@fob.usp.br
authors.forename: Giédre
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berretin-Felix
authors.forename: Renata Paciello
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Hugo Nary
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Eduardo Sanches
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Gonales
authors.forename: Alceu Sergio
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: Inge Elly Kiemle
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Trindade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000002:abnormalities*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012119:Respiration; D025363:Rhinomanometry