Longitudinal effects of rapid maxillary expansion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) via banded expanders in the sagittal and vertical facial planes.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 25 patients who had undergone RME (with either Haas-type or Hyrax hygienic expanders) followed by standard edgewise orthodontic therapy. This sample was compared with a group of 25 patients who had edgewise treatment only and with a control nontreatment group of 26 subjects, matched by age and gender with the patients of the other two groups. Lateral cephalograms were taken before treatment (T1), at the end of treatment (T2), and at 3 years posttreatment (T3), comprising a 5-year average time of observation.


RESULTS
RME treatment, in the long-term, did not influence the sagittal position of the apical jaw bases or the facial vertical dimension.


CONCLUSIONS
Unfavorable cephalometric changes resulting immediately after RME are temporary, and therefore concerns about using RME in patients with vertical growth patterns or an extremely convex facial profile are not substantiated.
Garib
Daniela Gamba
DG
Department of Orthodontics, University of São Paulo City, Brazil. dgarib_boston@hotmail.com
Henriques
José Fernando Castanha
JF
Carvalho
Paulo Eduardo Guedes
PE
Gomes
Simone Carinhena
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014716:Vertical Dimension